Monty in no rush to name vice captains
Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie will not announce his vice-captains until after July’s Open Championship at St Andrews at the earliest.
American counterpart Corey Pavin yesterday named former Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman, Davis Love, Jeff Sluman and Paul Goydos as his vice-captains for October’s showdown at Celtic Manor.
Montgomerie’s predecessor Nick Faldo named Paul McGinley as his vice-captain at May’s BMW PGA Championship in 2008, a move which led to the Irishman to later decline the role as he still had hopes of qualifying for Valhalla.
“There will be nothing announced on Europe’s part until at least after the British Open this year, so that’s the third week in July at least before any announcement is made on our part,” said Montgomerie after carding a one-under-par 71 during the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic today.
“I want to give everybody an opportunity of qualifying for the team and we will know more about what the qualifying situation is around that time.”
Montgomerie is believed to be considering Thomas Bjorn, Jose Maria Olazabal - who was Faldo’s only vice-captain – and McGinley for the role.
Europe’s nine qualifiers will be confirmed after August’s Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles before Montgomerie completes the 12-man team with three wild cards.
As for Pavin’s vice-captains, Montgomerie said: “I don’t really have any thoughts, I was never going to have any thoughts at all. That’s up to him and the American team and I wish them well.”
