ST ANDREWS, Scotland, (Reuters) – The qualifying process for Europe’s Ryder Cup team is likely to be changed before the next event in 2012, victorious captain Colin Montgomerie said yesterday.
Montgomerie said it was the worst day of his professional career when he had to overlook Paul Casey and Justin Rose for wildcard picks in favour of Luke Donald, Padraig Harrington and Edoardo Molinari.
Montgomerie, who led his team to victory over the U.S. by one point at Celtic Manor, was given approval to increase the number of captain’s picks from two to three but he did not count on having to choose the likes of Harrington and Donald.
“I always felt that we needed more captain’s picks even when we were winning the trophy three times in a row in 2002 through to 2006,” Montgomerie told a news conference on the eve of the Dunhill Links Championship.
“We kept the same system of 10 automatics and two picks and even while we were winning, I wasn’t quite sure the system was right myself.
“I always felt that if I was ever appointed as captain I would like more captain’s picks and that might happen again.
“I had a great team but I should not have been leaving out top-10 players in the world.
“It was a very difficult decision to make so you will find in the months leading up to Christmas, and before the next captain is announced, that changes are in place.”
Montgomerie said he had been inundated with messages of congratulations but had not heard from Casey or Rose.
“No, I haven’t, and I think Paul is still cycling in Canada. He must have got lost,” he joked.
“I am sure they would have loved to have been in Wales. Of course they would. But there’s no blame in the decision. It was a decision that hurt me having to make.”
Montgomerie has ruled out being captain for a second time when Europe defend the trophy but he would be prepared to travel to Chicago as a vice-captain to Jose Maria Olazabal, the favourite to succeed him.
“I would not hesitate and I would be honoured to help him if I was asked to be a vice-captain,” Montgomerie said.
“He (Olazabal) is clear favourite and I would be honoured to help the European cause, as I would under any captain in the future.”
