Monty will gladly accept Ryder Cup wild card

Colin Montgomerie turned down the chance to be fitted for his Ryder Cup uniform a fortnight ao – but will gladly accept a wild card on to the European team if he needs one.

Montgomerie has set himself the target of winning two of his next four events, starting with this week’s Scandinavian Masters, to qualify for the team automatically.

But the 41-year-old will view it as a compliment rather than a sign of his fading powers if he has to rely on a wild card from captain and former team-mate Bernhard Langer to make the team which will defend the trophy at Oakland Hills in September.

The Scot currently stands out of the automatic reckoning, 19th on the world points list and 21st on the European points list.

Sweden’s Jesper Parnevik summed up the thoughts of most players when he stated recently there was actually only one wild card available, Montgomerie’s name long since pencilled in for the other.

“That’s what I’ve heard, from the players, press and the public,” said Montgomerie, who partnered Langer to two wins and a half from three matches at The Belfry in 2002.

“I haven’t heard it from the guy that counts and I don’t really expect to.

“He knows me as well as anyone in these Ryder Cup games, he knows what I can do and if he feels I can help his cause I’ll be gladly on that plane. If he feels differently that will be entirely up to him.

“If I was captain I’d want my top 10 to qualify to leave me two choices. I’ve got to win two of the next four tournaments I’m playing in – this week, the USPGA, NEC and BMW International – to qualify automatically.

“I’m playing okay, I’ve got my game back in shape. Loch Lomond and the (British) Open were mental strengtheners for me and got me back on track. It’s nice to come back to a venue like this where I won the last two times (in 1999 and 2001).

“I’ve done a lot in this game but to actually be picked for a Ryder Cup team would mean a helluva lot to me actually.

“Out of the six times I’ve played I’ve qualified first three times, never mind the top 10. To be selected means almost more. ‘This guy is good enough to help my team, I know he hasn’t qualified and he’s not even 11th.’ It’s nice to be in that position and feel that support from my peers.”

Support was also the key word for Montgomerie when reflecting on his performance in the British Open at his home course of Troon, where he was in contention until a final day 76.

“The Open was all about support, how marvellous it was,” added the Scot. “I was expecting something but it was magnified and thanks to them all for getting me through because it was a very difficult week.

“But it was a fantastic week, a week that will live in my memory forever.”

There was no such grandiose statement from another former European number one, Lee Westwood, but the 31-year-old admitted he had taken a huge amount of confidence from his fourth place finish.

Westwood carded rounds of 68 and 67 over the weekend to record his best ever finish in a major championship and only his second top 10 in the British Open just weeks after being despondent about the lack of improvement in his game since his initial work with David Leadbetter at the start of last year.

“It clicked at the European Open and I’m just trying to keep hold of those feelings and crack on,” said Westwood, who was second behind Montgomerie here in 2001 and finds himself favourite to claim a third Scandinavian Masters title.

“It was down to working on it with David, one of his guys, going home and working on it myself and finding a key I could take out there.

“It’s nice to be favourite again, the bookies are never too far off. It’s a representation I’ve got a semblance of a game back.”

Westwood was already virtually assured of his place in the Ryder Cup team before the British Open and is now certain to make his fourth straight appearance in the team.

And he would not be the least bit surprised to see Montgomerie playing alongside him in Detroit.

“I’ve got the Ryder Cup qualification out of the way which is great, that takes all the pressure off, there are a lot of big tournaments coming up, the USPGA, NEC, Ryder Cup and defending two tournaments (the BMW International Open and Dunhill Links championship) so it gives me confidence for those,” he added.

“Monty’s a good enough player to knock off a couple of events and that’s all he needs. I think it would be a stronger side if he was playing in it. He showed what he can do at The Belfry. It would be nice if he qualified but I wouldn’t be surprised if he got a pick.

“You want a backbone of people who have played well in the past then you want some fresh blood that are playing well at the time.”