Monty: Catriona Matthew is role

model for Ryder Cup contenders

FROM THE SCOTSMAN.SPORT.COM WEBSITE
By JIM BLACK
Colin Montgomerie has issued a rallying cry to Scotland's male golfers to follow the example of Catriona Matthew, the British Women's Open champion, when they line-up at Gleneagles this week in the £1.4 million Johnnie Walker Championship.
The Ryder Cup captain is keen to see several of his countrymen emerge as contenders for places at Celtic Manor next year after lamenting the fact that not a single Scot was involved in the most recent match at Valhalla.

Montgomerie, pictured, also warned those with aspirations of making the team must aim to play their way into the world's top 40 after picking out Marc Warren as a potential contender.

"I hope this week that players like Marc Warren, David Drysdale and Alastair Forsyth show me some form because I would like to see a Scottish presence in Wales other than myself," said Montgomerie.

"Of all of our players, Marc is the one with the potential to succeed. He has the asset of great length and skill and he proved that when we played together in the World Cup and won it after finish runner-up the year before.

"Marc has had a few too many missed cuts and the consistency has not been tere. But I am sure that will come right and when the Ryder Cup qualification process starts at the European Masters in Switzerland it will be amazing the effect that has on the players. What Catriona Matthew achieved has given the game in Scotland a lift and we have had others contending recently."

Montgomerie also pointed to the success currently being enjoyed by our amateur golfers following the European and world team championship victories.

"We now need that group to go forward into the professional game and perform the same way," he said. "Really we only need a couple of them to do that to reap the rewards."

Montgomerie confessed to having felt sorry for Alison Nicholas and her Solheim Cup team after revealing that he had taken more of an interest in the biennial match than usual, presumably in search of pointers.

"They were trying to become for the first European team to win in America and after their third defeat in a row and our Ryder Cup loss last year it will be important to break the American stranglehold in Wales," he said.

Meanwhile, Montgomerie lavished praise on the Playsport Golf complex at East Kilbride after interrupting his preparations for Gleneagles to perform the opening ceremony yesterday.

"We want as many people as possible to have the opportunity to play golf before the 2014 Ryder Cup and this is an excellent facility," he enthused. "But this is not just a golf complex. There is a plan to have indoor courts as well and we are always complaining about the lack of tennis prowess in Britain.

"Tim Henman and Andrew Murray have taken the sport forward but there is not much happening beyond that. This facility can make a huge difference."