Monty: Harrington and Westwood must lead Europe

Colin Montgomerie has backed Padraig Harrington and Lee Westwood to steer Europe to Ryder Cup glory in his absence.

The Scot, 45, will take no part in the 37th Ryder Cup, which takes places at the Valhalla club in Louisville, Kentucky and begins on September 16, after Europe captain Nick Faldo decided against giving him a wild card spot.

Only Faldo himself has amassed more Ryder Cup points over the years and Montgomerie was overlooked despite never having lost a singles match in his eight bouts with the Americans.

That will naturally place the onus on the more experienced players and Montgomerie was convinced Harrington and Westwood would revel in the role of helping the four rookies in the team settle in.

He said: “I had that role a couple of times and I’m looking to the pairing of Padraig Harrington and Lee Westwood for that now. They are playing right now the best golf of any European and in fact in the world.

“And they have good Ryder Cup experience. They have both played four or five each already so it is their turn to step up.

“Padraig Harrington, having won the last two majors, is playing as well as anybody worldwide right now so he and Lee Westwood I would expect to be the on-course leaders.”

Having been controversially snubbed by Faldo in favour of Ian Poulter, Montgomerie confirmed he would be following events in Kentucky on television as Europe aim to clinch their third successive Ryder Cup victory.

He said: “I will be watching it. I am a keen supporter of the European Tour and European golf and I will be watching and hoping for a similar result to the last two.

“It will be close but Europe will win and I look forward to that happening.

“It was disappointing not to have been chosen having played for 18 years but at the same time it gives me added incentive to make it the next time in 2010.

“I don’t believe I have played my last Ryder Cup match or have written my last chapter in the book of the Ryder Cup.”

Faldo also opted to do without Darren Clarke, another stalwart of previous successes at the Americans’ expense, but Montgomerie, who hopes to be named captain for the 2014 event, was convinced that was a show of strength as much as a controversial decision.

He said: “That’s the beauty of it. To be able to leave out the likes of Darren Clarke and Carl Pettersson means our team is as strong as ever and so strong that it will be a winning team.”

Montgomerie was speaking at the launch of Golf in the City at London’s Canary Wharf, a five-day event in the heart of the capital’s financial district that features a three-hole course that floats on the Docklands waters.

He said: “It’s very difficult – it’s real challenge to hit the green – but there is an Aston Martin for a hole-in-one so that will get people out of their offices.”