Monty: I want to play in next Ryder Cup

Triumphant Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie remains hopeful he can play in the competition again and has set his sights on forcing his way back into the world's top 50.

Montgomerie, who led Europe to victory over the United States at Celtic Manor earlier this month, dropped from 135th to 425th in the world during his term as captain.

The 47-year-old returned to being a player at the Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland last week and believes he can make a significant climb up the rankings.

"I really want to get my world ranking back. I feel I can get back into the top 50," Montgomerie said.

"You're entering all the Majors and world events and that's where I want to be. That's a start. I'm four hundred and something. Bit by bit, we'll get back into the top 50.

"That's the first goal. I really want to try to play in the Ryder Cup again. Everybody who played, all 24, all of them were top 50 in the world.

"You know you have to be in the top 50 to play. We had nine of the top 10 in the world in the Ryder Cup which is fantastic."

Montgomerie, a former world number two, finished joint 41st at the Dunhill Links Championship and admits there is a long way to go before he can start thinking about winning tournaments again.

Speaking ahead of the Asian Tour's Iskandar Johor Open, which starts tomorrow, he said: "I need to get the confidence back. I'm not confident on the course right now. Not enough. That comes from 66s and 67s.

"If I can get that, I don't need to beat balls all day long. I've never done it. I have relied on a natural rhythm in my swing.

"If I start with a 67 tomorrow, that's the first rung in a very long ladder. But at least it's the first step.

"I've just lost that confidence and that's what I need to gain."