‘Too young’ Monty pulls out of Ryder Cup skipper race

COLIN MONTGOMERIE has withdrawn his name from the list of candidates to be Europe’s next Ryder Cup captain after being persuaded he is still young enough to be involved as a player.

Montgomerie, 41, sank the winning putt that saw Europe retain the Cup at Oakland Hills in Michigan by an eventual record margin of 17.5 to 9.5 points in September.

The Scot, who yesterday received the Professional Golfers’ Association Recognition Award for his services to the sport, had seen his world ranking drop from 41st to 80th in the world.

That prompted thoughts of captaincy which would see Montgomerie take a non-playing, managerial role in the European team which competes with the United States for the trophy.

But with the 36th Ryder Cup in Straffan, Ireland, just two years away, Montgomerie said he wanted to carry on playing.

“I’ve been told I’m too young,” said Montgomerie, and when asked who had told him that he replied: “Everybody. And after hearing it I possibly have to agree.

“I think I can play in Ireland and possibly the next couple. My current world ranking is ridiculous and I want to get back in the top 25 next year. I know I can, in fact I know I am a top 10 player really.”

The European tour’s tournament committee, of which Montgomerie is a member, is expected to discuss the captaincy on Monday where they will decide whether to ask Germany great Bernhard Langer if he wants to retain the captaincy.

“It’s our job to select the captain who will win the thing,” Montgomerie said. “It’s his to say ‘no’ to really and if he says he wants to do it again, then there’s your captain.

“I think he would be the Ryder Cup players’ choice - nothing flustered him all week.

“It’s not a ceremonial thing. Losing in Ireland is not an option. We have a golden opportunity to win three times in a row, which we’ve not done before.”

Britons Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam and Sandy Lyle - like Langer, all winners of major golf championships - have expressed an interest in the 2006 European captaincy.

The United States have already announced Tom Lehman as successor to the heavily-criticised Hal Sutton.

His elevation to the captaincy sent shockwaves through golf because he was the central figure in the biggest controversy the match has ever seen - the premature celebrations in 1999 when American players, their wives and caddies invaded the green when Europe’s Jose Maria Olazabal still had a “live” putt.

“I thought it was going to be either Mark O’Meara or Paul Azinger,” said Montgomerie. “We will see how he goes and we wish him well. He has a tough job to unify their team and to cope with a huge home support. I think the whole country will stop that week.”

Montgomerie’s form dipped following the break-up of his marriage but he showed he was getting back to his best in solo competition when he led the Target World Challenge in California last week after three rounds before finishing fourth to Tiger Woods.

“I was swinging well last week. I’ve slightly heavier clubs and I was hitting the fairways with them,” Montgomerie said.

“I think I’ve been caught up in the whole rigmarole of trying to hit the ball too far.”