Monty’s wild card warning

COLIN MONTGOMERIE has issued a stern warning to high-profile players, telling them that they cannot count on a “wild card” pick for this year’s European Ryder Cup team.

While not mentioning anyone by name, he strongly hinted that those who haven’t clinched their places — a group which includes Pádraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose — before the last counting event, the Johnnie Walker Championship on August 26-29, must be present at that Gleneagles event if they wish to be considered.

Montgomerie was speaking after he announced that the Dane Thomas Björn and Ireland’s Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley would be his vice captains for the clash with the USA at Celtic Manor from October 1-3.