Monty keeping an eye on the Fed-Ex four

IT IS little wonder that Colin Montgomerie’s concentration levels suffer now and then, given all the rumours and reports concerning his private life. He was at it again yesterday, when stating Edoardo Molinari would be next in line for a Ryder Cup place should Lee Westwood have to withdraw because of a leg injury.

The man currently in that position happens to be Luke Donald and would become Molinari only if he finishes second or third in the Johnnie Walker Championship here at Gleneagles this week. The Englishman is competing in the Barclays Championship in the United States, a tournament with no direct bearing on the composition of the European Ryder Cup team.

However, Monty intends to keep a close eye on the form of the “Fed-Ex Four” in New Jersey and with that in mind, stated: “I am having dinner in the hotel. Harrington is out first because he’s 50th in the rankings so he’ll be done before dinner. But the other three of the Fed-Ex Four, as you’ve nicknamed them, will be out during dinner so I’ll be watching them as well.”

As it transpired, that could only be the case if Montgomerie planned to dine very late indeed last night. In fact, Pádraig Harrington wasn’t due off the tee at the Ridgewood Country Club until 6.27pm Scottish time and due to finish later than 11pm. !

Paul Casey and Justin Rose were set to play only a few minutes previously. !

Despite his confusion, the captain was able to clarify the situation should Westwood have to cry off the team before the start of matches at Celtic Manor on October 1.

“At the point of qualification, if he doesn’t make it – and I’m 99% certain that he will – then it goes down the list from which he qualified, which right now means Luke Donald will take his place,” he stated. “If Lee cannot commit on Sunday, it doesn’t mean he can’t take his place. We are entitled to substitute a player right up until the Thursday night before the match begins. That’s his deadline. I’ve got to bring in a substitute at that stage but not until then.”

Ross McGowan’s withdrawal yesterday because of injury guarantees Frances Molinari his place in the side and makes the situation regarding the last two automatic places in the team a little less confusing. Only Simon Dyson and Alvaro Quiros can now gatecrash the nine. If they are to do so, this is what must happen here over the next three days:

Dyson: Must win and hope that Miguel-Angel Jimenez (70 yesterday) is not in the top nine or Peter Hanson is not in the top 43.

Quiros: Must win and hope that Jimenez is not in the top 31.

Although he finished with a six at the par-five 9th yesterday, Dyson remained very much in the hunt with a four-under par round of 68. The former Walker Cup player makes no secret of a burning desire to make the side by rushing by air and train from Wisconsin to the Czech Republic last week to play in the Czech Open in which he finished fifth before moving on to the Scottish Highlands.

“I’d love to play it, every European golfers wants to play,” Dyson enthused. “It would be extra special if I did win this week and it earned me a place. But first things first, I’ve got to try and win the tournament. I wouldn’t expect a pick, to be honest. I think you would go for more experience, like Casey, Harrington and Donald.”

Dyson was partnered yesterday by Peter Hanson, who further cemented his place in the top nine with a solid three under par 69, and Quiros, who has a lot of ground to make up having done no better than even par.

It’s going to be a long weekend for these guys.