Monty adds more grist to Tiger’s mill

FIRST it was Rory McIlroy saying any member of the European team would fancy taking on Tiger Woods in the Ryder Cup. Last night it was his captain, Colin Montgomerie, of all people, adding fuel to the fire by using the word “hidden” to describe the world number one’s placing at number three in the order for this morning’s fourballs at Celtic Manor.

It has been the tradition of previous US captains to put Woods out at the top of the order but Corey Pavin, doubtless basing his rationale on a feeling that Tiger is no longer the force of old, is sending him out lower down the list. He goes out with Steve Stricker against Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher.

“I was expecting Tiger to go first or fourth so I think Tiger being hidden is a different move,” said Montgomerie. “I don’t know why, whether Tiger asked for that. Anybody playing Tiger Woods in our team can’t wait to get out there.

“ Ian Poulter wants to start now he’s so pumped up. It’s the one game you look for but it’s a very difficult one, mind you. Tiger and Steve are probably the two best putters on the American team.”

Hopefully, Monty’s comment won’t further inspire Woods to produce the kind of golf that has been mainly missing from his previous appearances in the Ryder Cup.

Whereas Poulter revels in the atmosphere of the occasion, Fisher is an unproven quantity and might have wished for a less frenetic start to his debut in the competition.

Montgomerie announced a week ago that he had already decided on his first day pairings and that all 12 of his team would play at some stage of day one. He will stick to that plan and that’s good news for the Molinari brothers, Peter Hanson and Miguel-Angel Jimenez, who sit out today’s fourballs.

“It was always going to be Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy or Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer to go first and second,” Monty revealed. “I feel the honour to hit the first shot for Europe should go to Lee.”

Monty struggled to understand Jim Furyk’s omission from the American line-up and also that of Hunter Mahan, who went unbeaten in each of his five matches at Valhalla. Pavin stated the obvious when pointing out that he “had to sit four players” but hardly the winner of a cool $11 million dollars last week-end. As for the significance of this morning’s session, Monty stressed that “momentum has to be gained early on to gain the lead on Friday evening. That’s my goal.”