Monty eyes right-hand men for Ryder tilt

COLIN Montgomerie may surprise us but it is difficult to believe he would include two people among his assistants at Celtic Manor next October who have never played in the Ryder Cup.

That’s just what his opposite number Corey Pavin has done. Paul Goydos has rarely been anything more than a journeyman on the US PGA Tour with the media machine unable to say much about him other than he is “a veteran well liked by his peers.”

At least Jeff Sluman won the 1988 US PGA Championship and has played in the President’s Cup, an event in which he has acted as vice captain on three occasions.

However, the President’s Cup comes nowhere near the Ryder Cup for intensity and that’s almost certainly the reason why Pavin has also opted for two men steeped in the traditions of the event: Tom Lehman, a member of the successful side in 1999 and captain at The K Club in 2006, and Davis Love, who has won nine matches, halved five and lost 12 in his five appearances in the contest.

It’s almost as if Pavin is thanking Lehman for appointing him one of his assistants in ‘06 although it was a match in which the Yanks were routed by a massive 18½ points to 9½. However, it would be unwise for anyone to underestimate Pavin and his belligerent behaviour and that of Lehman during the controversial War on the Shore at Kiawah Island in 1989 and Brookline 10 years later aren’t easily forgotten whatever about forgiven.

Now that Pavin has shown his hand, speculation is intensifying as to who Montgomerie will choose to be his eyes and ears at Celtic Manor. He has already indicated that he will surround himself with at least two and probably more assistants as he found fault with Nick Faldo’s virtual go-it-alone approach at Valhalla two years ago.

Because so many candidates have stated that they wish to play their way into the side, Monty has to time his approach carefully. Paul McGinley has only to put his hand up and he’s as good as the captain’s right hand man. His leadership of the British and Irish team in the Vivendi Trophy last September earned countless plaudits and left few in doubt that the top job would be his either at Medinah in 2012 or more likely, Gleneagles two years later.

McGINLEY is one of those who hasn’t given up hope of playing but as he is fighting his way back from knee surgery and is way down in the points table, that looks a forlorn hope. Unless something dramatic happens, the 43- year-old will hardly make it. That being the case, he will be Montgomerie’s first choice as vice captain.

The Scot will assuredly also look towards mainland Europe and here two men stand out. Jose-Maria Olazabal was Faldo’s assistant at Valhalla and did a fine job. Like McGinley, he wants to be in a playing role but for similar reasons to the Irishman – illness and lack of form – that is improbable.

While Monty has already stated that he wants the Spaniard, the response hasn’t been enthusiastic and Olly’s interest in the job remains unclear.

Should he opt out, that would clear the way for the Dane Thomas Bjorn, who performed the task for Bernhard Langer at Oakland Hills in 2004. He has since had further experience of captaincy when leading Continental Europe in the Vivendi and enjoys the respect of the players.

Monty is also sure to look close to home, all the more so as it is unlikely that there will be a Scot in the team. As well as his Ryder Cup experience, and as Open champion at Carnoustie, Paul Lawrie has the right credentials.

Meanwhile, Pádraig Harrington, disappointed at missing the cut in his first outing of the year in Los Angeles and falling back to 10th in the world rankings, will be hoping for better fortune when he tees it up in the Pebble Beach pro-am. He renews his now annual pro-am partnership with his close friend JP McManus.

The European challenge is completed by LA runner-up Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia while Phil Mickelson will also be at Pebble – the venue for the US Open next June – intent on regaining the world second spot from Steve Stricker, the impressive winner at Riviera over the weekend.

Having finished third and sixth in his two tournaments so far, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Rory McIlroy has moved up to seventh in the world rankings, a remarkable achievement for a 20-year-old. He takes this week off which will give him an opportunity to rest a sore back before tackling the first of eight tournaments in the United States, the Accenture World Match Play Championship starting in Arizona tomorrow week. The European Tour moves on this week to New Delhi for the inaugural Avantha Masters. Four Irishmen, Shane Lowry, Darren Clarke, Gareth Maybin and Gary Murphy are in the field for this inaugural event.