Tiger will make it tougherfor Europe, says Monty

COLIN MONTGOMERIE believes Tiger Woods’ presence would make it “a better win” for Europe if his team regain the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor next year.

Woods, who missed the USA’s comprehensive 2008 victory in Kentucky after undergoing knee surgery, is critical to American hopes of retaining the trophy. Winner of 14 Majors, he displayed ominous form during the weekend’s Presidents Cup event in San Francisco, forging a prodigious partnership with Steve Stricker, posting a perfect five-from-five points return as the USA toppled an International team 19½-14½.

The Americans have not tasted Ryder Cup success on British or Irish soil for 16 years. But Europe captain Montgomerie knows Woods could potentially have a bigger say than any other player towards ending that sequence when the 38th Ryder Cup is contested in Wales from October 1 to October 3 next year.

“It will be difficult enough to try to regain the Ryder Cup without Tiger Woods, never mind if he is back to his top form and winning five points out of five,” said Montgomerie. “It makes our job even tougher, so we have to counteract that by playing as well as we can against him and also the other 11 players on that team. But I think it makes it a better win if we can regain the Ryder Cup with Tiger Woods on it.”

Montgomerie, a veteran of eight cup campaigns, hopes that as many of his prospective team will familiarise themselves with Celtic Manor by playing in next summer’s Wales Open. He will email players to that effect – encouraging them to enter the Wales Open, an event that several of his star names will not have featured in before.

“It goes without saying that in the Wales Open, if I have one of my European potentials or probables or possibles – or whatever you call them – to win by a few shots here (Celtic Manor) does them no harm at all,” he added.

Montgomerie also revealed he would like Welsh representation – either in his team or among the all-important support staff.

“If I don’t have a Welsh representative on the course playing, I would like to have some sort of Welsh help in the background,” he said.

Former European captain Nick Faldo opted for just one deputy – Jose Maria Olazabal – at Valhalla last year but named DJ Spoony and Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain as his wild cards. The musical pair were given the task of cheerleaders and, during Europe’s miserable defeat, handed a free reign to wander into the players’ locker room as well as pose for photographs on the first tee.

But Monty, who played nine holes on the 2010 Ryder Cup course yesterday alongside DJ Chris Evans, USA captain Corey Pavin and Welsh baritone Bryn Terfel, insists he won’t make the same mistake at Celtic Manor next year.

Montgomerie (46) said: “We will have a team room at the hotel, a locker room in the clubhouse and a team room in the clubhouse but what happened in 2008 won’t be happening again. It will be my wish on who comes into the team room and who doesn’t and I don’t think there will be any drummers or drums. And definitely no DJs either like Chris.

“He’s a super guy, but I don’t believe the players need that type of geeing up on this occasion. The team room will be for ex-Ryder Cup golfers who have been there, understand and can sit from the outside and look in because sometimes it can be a bit blurred looking out from within.”

Ireland’s Paul McGinley, who sank the winning putt for Europe in the 2002 Ryder Cup, is odds on to be handed an assistant role provided he fails to make the original selection as a player.

The 42-year-old enhanced his reputation for the position only last month when he led a Great Britain and Ireland team including countrymen Rory McIIroy and Graeme McDowell to a convincing Seve Trophy victory over Thomas Bjorn’s Europe in France.

Montgomerie added: “I thought Paul and Thomas did a brilliant job and it was a fantastic experience for both of them.

“It was good for me to view how they got on and I listened in on their team meetings. They were marvellous and that’s the type of passion and expertise I’m looking for. I will have three or four vice-captains who will be of current player status because in my mind, being European captain is an extremely responsible position.”