Monty’s Celtic conundrum making the call of the wild
Few would like the role. After Peter Hanson’s splendid victory in the Czech Open on Sunday, Monty has at least five creditable candidates battling for the trio of places.
An examination of the points tables heading into the final counting event, this week’s Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, suggests thecaptain will opt for the leading two off the European list not in the automatic top nine – Paul Casey and Pádraig Harrington – along with Luke Donald, next in line from the world group.
But much could change between now and 6.30pm on Sunday when the Scot unveils his selection after the tournament.
First and foremost, strong pressure is certain to be mounted by players and officials alike that those who have been loyal to the European Tour should be given preference.
That would leave Harrington out in the cold as he has played only nine tournaments that count on the home circuit. Casey (12 events) and Donald (11) are only marginally better off while another strong contender, Justin Rose, has contested six.
The fifth of those most vying for Montgomerie’s vote is the Italian Edoardo Molinari and his omission – should it come to pass – would be the most contentious. Not only has the Italian contested 21 counting tournaments but he captured theBarclays Scottish Open, one of the most valuable and prestigious on the circuit. He and his brother Francesco, who has qualified for the team,captured the World Cup for Italy last November and make a readymade fourball/foursomes partnership at Celtic Manor.
Furthermore, Edoardo is sixth in the world points list and 16th in the European Tour section and, unlike Harrington, Casey, Donald and Rose, will be in action at Gleneagles.
Molinari won’t crash his way into the automatic nine even if he wins but it would be harsh to deny him a wild card should he manage to do so.
There is a widely-held view that the absent quartet should have foregone the riches of the Barclays Cham-pionship (prize fund $7.5m [€5.9m]) and instead come home to prove their loyalty to the European Tour and their commitment to the Ryder Cup cause.
There may be only a “mere” £1.4m (€1.7m) at stake in the Scottish Highlands but surely where such wealthy gentlemen are concerned, money shouldn’t matter all that much any more whereas Ryder Cup places are supposed to be sacrosanct in golf.
It’s little wonder that European Tour chief George O’Grady watches all of this with an air of dismay and concern. It’s not at all easy to keep sponsors on side in these times.
This week, six of his top players, Harrington, Rose, Casey, Donald,Ian Poulter and Rory McIlroy, are competing in the USA and not in Scotland. Also missing for variousreasons are major winners Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer as well as Lee Westwood. You can see why there’s growing support for those who mainly ply their trade in Europe to be given preference over those chasing the mighty dollar.
Montgomerie has spoken of the list of names he wrote on a sheet of paper when the counting period began and secreted away in a bedside locker.Although he claimed during the British Open that there would be few if any changes by the end of August, you have to suspect the scenario has changed. You can be sure the names of Peter Hanson and Jimenez are not there and he would have also been taken aback at the prospect of having to leave out the winner of two significant events on the USPGA Tour.
But that’s the fate I suspect is awaiting Justin Rose, champion at both the Memorial and AT&T tournaments. As for the trio that finally get the nod, the likelihood is that Casey andHarrington will be okay (indeed, they may well have been already assured on that point) and the last spot rests between Donald and Edoardo Molinari. As I stressed at the outset, Monty will be wrong no matter what he does.
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