Montgomerie hopes to draw the wild card

Colin Montgomerie, re-united this week with the caddie he had throughout his seven-year reign as European number one, also finds himself in the company of Luke Donald for the next few days.

The two are battling for a Ryder Cup wild card in Munich this week.

The players cannot now qualify automatically for Europe’s side and captain Bernhard Langer announces his two wild cards on Sunday evening.

Montgomerie, top scorer in the last match two years ago, and Donald, the new kid on the block, are thought to be in competition with Swede Fredrik Jacobson - the fourth highest-placed European on the world rankings – and possibly in-form German Alex Cejka.

With none of the other three having played in the match before, Montgomerie’s trump card is his experience, and now the experience of caddie Alastair McLean as well.

The 41-year-old dispensed with his fellow Scot’s services two years ago after a 10-year partnership, but contacted him again after his 58th place finish in the NEC world championship on Sunday.

“It’s nice to have him back on the bag,” said Montgomerie. “If I am picked he will be a bonus for the whole team.

“If I am selected then great, but if I’m not well, that’s it. All that’s in Bernhard’s mind is 14 points and who can most help him get them.”

The final event before Langer decides is the BMW International Open. Montgomerie won it in 1999, but he was already in the team then and the big news on the day was Padraig Harrington’s second place to grab a spot and the shock choice of Andrew Coltart by then captain Mark James.

“The reports the next day ended with: ‘By the way, I think Monty won by three shots,’” he joked.