Monty gives Ryder Cup backing to McDowell
McDowell earned automatic exemption for next month’s US Open and July’s British Open by being among the top-50 on the world rankings following last week’s BMW PGA Championship.
In fact, McDowell moved from 50th to 49th on the world rankings despite an average performance in the Tour’s flagship.
Monty again reinforced the importance of the eventual members of the European Team competing in the Majors at a Johnnie Walker Championship media briefing yesterday at Gleneagles.
The Scot is event chairman and it’s the final qualifying event for this year’s Ryder Cup.
“I was delighted for Graeme McDowell and it’s done his Ryder Cup cause nothing but good,” said Monty.
“It is going to be very difficult to be in the top nine for this team if you are not competing in the Major Championships or the WGCs.
“We’ve seen here in Scotland what Graeme is capable of as he won the Scottish Open two years ago at Loch Lomond and that was in front of a very, very strong field.”
Monty also hinted if Clarke were to show the form he did two years ago in capturing the KLM Open the week before the final Ryder Cup qualifying event then the Ulster player would also come well into serious reckoning for a ‘Captain’s Pick’.
This is in contrast to the wildcard selection snub shown to Clarke by 2008 captain Nick Faldo.
“Those players showing form just prior to the final selection will be given every consideration and we saw that with Darren two years,” said Monty.
“Darren had winning form on the board heading to that last event and he were to show that form again then he will come well into reckoning for one of my picks.”
And Monty has also agreed with legendary Jack Nicklaus who remarked in Spain earlier this week that Corey Pavin would need a ‘brain scan’ were he to leave out Tiger Woods from his American side.
“I certainly would agree with Jack and any tournament, whether it be a Ryder Cup or a Major or a regular Tour event that contains Tiger in it, would be a better tournament to win,” said Monty.
“I do hope he does play in the Ryder Cup and that he gets over his problems right now, and does compete in the Ryder Cup.
“It will better and bigger event with Tiger in it than without him, and it would be a bigger and better win for Europe with him against us.
“But then that is for him and Corey Pavin and the PGA of America to figure out but at the same time I personally hope he does play.”
However in a surprise twist the eight-times European Tour Order of Merit winning Monty revealed he has set himself the goal, once he’s ended his tenure as Ryder Cup captain of qualifying for the 2012 side.
“After this year’s Ryder Cup I will go back to the back benches and start trying to get my game back in shape and try to qualify for the 2010 Ryder Cup,” he said.
“There has been no European Captain who has ever played in the Ryder Cup after he’s been Captain of the side.
“I want to be the first player to do that.”
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