Monty: Enter The Tournament I'm Chair Of, Assuming You Want To Be A Captain's Pick

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Derek Lawrenson on Monty telling Europe's leading players that if they skip final qualifying spot at Gleneagles in August--which conflicts with the first FedEx Cup playoff event--they risk missing out on the Ryder Cup should they not make the team on points.

‘I’ll be very surprised if I pick any player on the border of the team whom I ask to play at Gleneagles and they don’t show up,’ he said. ‘I expect there will be about eight
 candidates for my three wild cards and it should be a given that they turn up at the final event.’

A fascinating battle of wills, therefore, between the captain and some of those who have served Europe so well at past Ryder Cups. It will be interesting to see who blinks first.

Garcia, for example, was shocked when he learned of the clash between the FedEx Cup and the last qualifying event, the Johnnie Walker Championship.

‘Why have they done that?’ asked the Spaniard, who didn’t even turn up at the European Tour’s flagship event at Wentworth last month. ‘The Ryder Cup is very important but you can’t change your whole schedule for it.’

There's just one glaring conflict of interest issue here and I know you'll be shocked....shocked, to learn that it involves Captain Monty!

Monty, who also happens to be tournament host at that event at Gleneagles, was furious when Nick Faldo, captain last time, picked two wild cards who took up the FedEx Cup option: Casey and Ian Poulter.

And the reactions? Alistair Tait in Golfweek:

The man gives the impression that he is in complete control. Yet underneath, it’s hard not to leave one of his news conferences with the impression he’s making things up as he goes along.

Peter Dixon says Monty tried to backtrack, but not really.

When pushed, however, Montgomerie was forced to backtrack. “OK, no, it’s not cast in stone. I cannot tell people to be playing in particular tournaments,” he said. “I can only ask. But I would be very surprised if I ask those particular players that are on the border [and] they are not there.”

And it seems that this will be the case, at least for Sergio. Mark Reason writes:

“I, you, the audience can’t envisage a Ryder Cup without Sergio. He’s a different case. I will be asking him to participate at Gleneagles to make the effort that’s required to be on the team.

“He’s the one guy that’s brought passion to the Ryder Cup after Seve. Seve’s the most passionate player I’ve seen play golf. Sergio is of that ilk. He’s been a great asset to any team I’ve been on with him.”

To call Garcia a different case is asking for trouble. Monty might think in private that Garcia is a different case and there are many who would agree with Europe’s Ryder Cup captain. But it is ill-advised to say so in public.

Monty Identifies Vice Captains; World Can Now Go Back To Less Important Matters

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And he's only going with three (Bjorn, McGinley and Olazabal), compared to Captain Pavin's four. For now."

Europe captain Colin Montgomerie identified Thomas Bjorn, Paul McGinley and Jose Maria Olazabal as his ideal choices to be vice captains for the Ryder Cup.

That’s assuming none of them qualify to play.

Montgomerie said Wednesday that he wants Bjorn and McGinley, who have competed in a combined five Ryder Cups, to focus on perhaps making the team over the next couple of months.

“The Americans are having four vice captains. I shall have three, maybe four,” Montgomerie said at the Real Club de Golf in Seville on the eve of the Spanish Open. “But I will not be naming them until after The Open at St. Andrews in July because, with Bjorn and McGinley, I want them to have every chance to make the team as players again.

Monty Running Up Tab To Make Celtic Manor Palatable

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From an unbylined AP story:

The alterations, unveiled to the European golfing media on Monday, have been implemented despite the fact that the Celtic Manor course was built and opened for play for $8 million just two years ago.

Ah, another shining example for the game's well-being.

Montgomerie has had many of the course bunkers deepened, had the rough made consistently thicker than its had been for the Wales Open on the European Tour in 2008 and 2009, and has insisted the greens be firmer and less receptive to spin.

“All along, Colin has insisted that he was not interested in gaining a home advantage,” said Jim Mckenzie, Celtic Manor’s director of golf courses.

“If Europe do regain the Ryder Cup he wants it to be because they have played the better golf and not because the course has been tricked up.

“And in all my dealings with Colin since he was appointed Europe’s Ryder Cup captain I have to say he has not been over demanding.”

Not over demanding. Just demanding.

"It'll be fun and we'll have a few things to talk about and discuss. We've always enjoyed each other's company out on the golf course and I don't think there will be any fisticuffs out there or anything like that!"

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That's the big takeaway from Corey Pavin and Colin Montgomerie's effort to promote their appearance in this week's Volvo China Open. There's something else different about the photo of the Captains, but I just can't put my finger on it. Anyone?
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Captain Pavin Taking His Time Getting Around To Talking Ryder Cup Strategy With Captain Azinger

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I went down to Newport Beach for the Toshiba Classic Pro-Am day to interview some geezers outside the coveted demos. Lunching with Ben Crenshaw, we were joined by Paul Azinger and Ron Braund. You may recall it was Braund who helped Azinger develop the pod system that was so influential in the underdog American's triumphant 2008 Ryder Cup win at Valhalla. Azinger and Braund have a book coming out in May that promises to offer some pretty shocking revelations about the system and in particular, how Azinger made his Captain's picks.
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