Montgomerie rues ‘impossible’ Ryder Cup selection
European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has spoken again of the selection dilemma he faces in deciding who will make it to Celtic Manor in October – but not which big names will be cast aside.
In an interview with Sky Sports News earlier today, Montgomerie admitted the choice "bordered on the impossible," as he spoke about the difficulty of deciding the three wildcard picks he will announce after this week's final qualifying event, the Johnny Walker Championship.
Nine players also automatically qualify, with Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher all already qualifying for the tournament. Although Westwood is recuperating from injury, he is expected to recover in time to play a role in Wales against the Americans.
That leaves three automatic qualifying places that can still be filled by a variety of names, players like Sweden's Peter Hanson, Spain's Miguel Ángel Jiménez, and England's Ross McGowan and Simon Dyson among those capable of making a last push for an automatic place on the team.
At least one of the biggest names will be absent, however. Luke Donald, Paul Casey, Padraig Harrington and Justin Rose have all failed to finish in the top nine, and with none of those players taking part in this week's qualifying event, choosing instead to contest the Barclays in New Jersey this week, at least one of that quartet has to be left out of Monty's plans.
There are also those who believe that Italy's Edoardo Molinari should be given a chance to accompany his brother at the tournament, after the pair won last year's World Cup - which could mean that more than one of those established names fails to make Monty's list.
Montgomerie admitted: "It is most unfortunate that I'm going to have to leave out world stars," the Scot continuing, "I am going to have to leave out players that feel they can help the European Tour cause."
"It's a bit like Fabio Capello having to leave out Theo Walcott, I suppose. He could only take 23, I can only take 12. I wish I could take 20, I do, I really do, because 20 deserve their spots this year, they really do. They've played great, the standard on tour has been the best it's ever been."
Let's hope the comparisons with Capello aren't too apposite.
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