Worrying form for our Ryder Cup stars

THE magnificent exploits of Lee Westwood apart, the Masters provided little cheer for European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie.

Recently he claimed to be delighted “with the way things are progressing”. “Any Ryder Cup team must possess a crucial blend of experience and talented youth and we have both of those elements near the top of the rankings at the moment,” said Montgomerie.

“The reason for this surge of talent is simple; standards are rising due to increased competition among the players. All the guys currently in the automatic qualification spots and those just on the fringes are battling week after week to prove how much they want to play in the Ryder Cup. By their outstanding play and each wanting to outdo each other’s achievements, they are bringing out the best in each other and, as captain, that is exactly what I want to see.”

While that may well have been the case where Westwood and (Ian Poulter for 36 holes) at Augusta, the performances of the remaining Europeans left a great deal to be desired.

The others to make the halfway cut were Soren Kjeldsen, Robert Karlsson, Sergio Garcia, Francesco Molinari, Miguel-Angel Jimenez and the exciting young Italian, Matteo Molinari. None mounted a decent challenge over the weekend. Garcia and Karlsson especially must be embarrassed by their closing 36-hole totals.

At least, though, they managed to be there for the four days. The likes of Pádraig Harrington, Paul Casey, Henrik Stenson, Martin Kaymer and Rory McIlroy, a quintet containing the blend of youth and experience referred to by Montgomerie, were all on their way home by Friday night.

From an Irish viewpoint, Harrington’s poor effort was the biggest disappointment and means he has again fallen outside the world’s top 10. He is left to ruefully contemplate that his most recent win came in the US PGA Championship in August 2008.

Then there is the failure of McIlroy and Graeme McDowell to make an impression. Monty has gone on record as stating he regards the pair as one of his readymade fourball/foursomes pairings at Celtic Manor but that must now be in doubt.

McIlroy began 2010 in style with top six finishes in Abu Dhabi and Dubai but has flopped badly since joining the US PGA Tour. He has yet to make the cut stateside and plans to go home to iron things out both physically and mentally before returning to competitive action.

McDowell is also reeling after a disastrous finish to the Shell Houston Open prior to Augusta where he started badly and never recovered. While Westwood and Poulter have merited their status of fourth and fifth in the world, it is difficult to avoid the impression Casey and Kaymer are flattered at seventh and ninth placings.

As the Europeans struggled in the Masters, several of those expected to backbone Corey Pavin’s US team measured up to expectations. Phil Mickelson led seven Americans in the top 10 with Anthony Kim’s final round 65 for third underlining his growing talents. He is now 10th in the world with his graph improving.

TIGER WOODS hinted at his pre-Masters press conference that he would play the Ryder Cup if, as he put it, “I achieve the necessary number of points”. In any case, he is assured of one of Pavin’s four “wild cards”. Mickelson’s magnificent performance at Augusta will further increase US confidence as will the form of Nick Watney, Hunter Mahan and Ricky Barnes, all of whom finished in the top 10.

The automatic top eight Americans today are Phil Mickelson, Antony Kim, Steve Stricker, Hunter Mahan, Lucas Glover, Dustin Johnson, Tiger Woods and Stewart Cink. Montgomerie’s leading nine are Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Rory McIlroy, Pádraig Harrington, Ross McGowan, Martin Kaymer, Simon Dyson, Paul Casey and Oliver Wilson.

It all adds spice to the big match over the first three days of October. With Harrington, McIlroy and McDowell still very much in the running for European places, direct Irish interest will be massive while few would want to miss the opportunity of watching Mickelson, Woods, Westwood and the rest in combat.

Golf fans should note that the second ballot for tickets is open until the end of this week. Spectators have the opportunity to immediately buy practice day tickets for Tuesday September 28, Wednesday September 29 and Thursday September 30, in addition to applying for matchday tickets through the ballot, both of which can be accessed through the Ryder Cup website, www.rydercup.com/tickets.