Garcia backs Langer choices

Sergio Garcia has backed the decision of Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer to pick Colin Montgomerie and Luke Donald as his wild cards for Oakland Hills.

The veteran Scot and the rookie from Hemel Hempstead snatched the last two places for next month’s showdown with the United States.

Montgomerie revealed his team-mates had urged the German to select him but he missed this week’s Omega European Masters to spend time relaxing with his children at Euro Disney.

In contrast, Donald showed just why he had been given the nod with an impressive four-under-par score of 67 in the first round of the tournament in Switzerland.

“I never got into what Langer said or did,” said Garcia. “I don’t like to get into those things but the team is shaping up and I am happy with it.

“He had six or seven guys to pick from for only two places and he had to think hard about who to take. But I always thought that Monty and Luke had the edge. It was always going to be a tough decision and it’s a shame that a couple of the guys have got to miss out.”

Garcia, who finished the day one ahead of his good friend Donald and one behind leader Miguel Angel Jimenez, also expressed an interest in partnering him in Detroit.

The 24-year-old, veteran of two Ryder Cups already, said: “I would love to play with Luke because he is a great friend of mine and a great player.

“We are confident in each other’s company but I have also done well with Lee (Westwood). I am looking forward to it now and I just want to play but that comes down to what Bernhard thinks.”