Monty aims for German master stroke to boost Ryder Cup chances

EUROPE’S top three players will fight it out for the Linde German Masters this week, and for Colin Montgomerie a victory could be the most significant of his career.

Montgomerie lies third in the Order of Merit behind US Open champion Michael Campbell and South African Retief Goosen.

Regaining the title he won in 1998 would take Montgomerie top of the money list unless Campbell finishes in outright second a position he has not occupied since claiming the last of his seven consecutive Order of Merit titles in 1999. It would also be an early boost to his chances of qualifying for next year's Ryder Cup at the K Club.

No wonder then the 42-year-old is stressing the importance of the €3.25m event, which gets underway at Gut Larchenhof in Cologne today.

"If I win here I go to number one and I know exactly what to do when I get there," said Montgomerie.

"Last year I finished 25th and to think about winning money lists was a long way off. It's exciting talking about it, even to have an opportunity to talk about it. I've had three seconds, it's nice to get that consistency back, that's what I was known for. But I need to win, I haven't won this year."

European Ryder Cup qualifying began last week, and Montgomerie is aware of the importance of a good start, having had to rely on a wild card for Oakland Hills in 2004.

It proved an excellent choice from captain Bernhard Langer as Montgomerie won three points out of four and holed the winning putt.

And he expects to see many of the same faces from that record-breaking victory in Kildare next September.

"I think the last team had a strong youth element which is improving and there are the likes of Harrington, Clarke, Westwood and me who aren't going anywhere," he added.

"I don't see much change. David Howell is proving himself, Paul Casey, Luke Donald, Ian Poulter and Paul McGinley will be there. The core of the team will remain the same."

One name not on that list is Jose Maria Olazabal, Monty's rival captain in the forthcoming Seve Trophy at The Wynyard in County Durham.

The Spaniard has not played Ryder Cup golf since 1999 but has not given up hope of a seventh appearance.

Olazabal said: "I'm not going to push or force anything. I'm going to do the best I can and see if that is good enough."