Monty wants a Ryder Cup team
that fears nobody
FROM THE SCOTSMAN SPORTS WEBSITE
By Mark Garrod
COLIN Montgomerie wants a Ryder Cup team that is totally fearless – and does not mind how young they are.
Qualifying for next year's match in Wales starts in two weeks and Montgomerie's confidence has just been given a huge boost. Europe's captain, now in the Netherlands for the KLM Open, had predicted that "four or five" possible members of his side would finish in the top 10 at the US PGA Championship on Sunday.
As it was Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy shared third place, Martin Kaymer, Henrik Stenson and Soren Kjeldsen were joint sixth and Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Francesco Molinari tied for 10th.
"I think that's our best ever performance in an American major and that should help us to go on and have more major champions," said the former European No1.
McIlroy is 20 and new 'Race to Dubai' leader Kaymer is 24, while Montgomerie has also been impressed by 26-year-old Spaniard Alvaro Quiros, now firmly established as the biggest hitter on either the European or US tours.
Asked if he could turn back the clock and start his career all over again the 46-year-old commented: "No – they are better than me. The potential is there to emulate the top five we had (Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam won 16 majors between them).
"I was never in that league. I had doubts they don't seem to have. There is no fear."I remember in 1999 that Sergio Garcia (19 at the time) was fearless going into the Ryder Cup and if McIlroy, Kaymer and Quiros make the team I envisage the same thing.
"I want a team that not in any way, shape or form has any fear of the Americans."
Montgomerie looks forward to seeing how they react to the pressure of playing for cup points, but this week has his focus firmly on his own career.
With no members of the world's top 50 at Kennemer the KLM Open is a real chance to end his recent barren spell of no top-10 finishes in 14 months. Darren Clarke, another without a top-10 finish this season, is the defending champion.
that fears nobody
FROM THE SCOTSMAN SPORTS WEBSITE
By Mark Garrod
COLIN Montgomerie wants a Ryder Cup team that is totally fearless – and does not mind how young they are.
Qualifying for next year's match in Wales starts in two weeks and Montgomerie's confidence has just been given a huge boost. Europe's captain, now in the Netherlands for the KLM Open, had predicted that "four or five" possible members of his side would finish in the top 10 at the US PGA Championship on Sunday.
As it was Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy shared third place, Martin Kaymer, Henrik Stenson and Soren Kjeldsen were joint sixth and Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Francesco Molinari tied for 10th.
"I think that's our best ever performance in an American major and that should help us to go on and have more major champions," said the former European No1.
McIlroy is 20 and new 'Race to Dubai' leader Kaymer is 24, while Montgomerie has also been impressed by 26-year-old Spaniard Alvaro Quiros, now firmly established as the biggest hitter on either the European or US tours.
Asked if he could turn back the clock and start his career all over again the 46-year-old commented: "No – they are better than me. The potential is there to emulate the top five we had (Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam won 16 majors between them).
"I was never in that league. I had doubts they don't seem to have. There is no fear."I remember in 1999 that Sergio Garcia (19 at the time) was fearless going into the Ryder Cup and if McIlroy, Kaymer and Quiros make the team I envisage the same thing.
"I want a team that not in any way, shape or form has any fear of the Americans."
Montgomerie looks forward to seeing how they react to the pressure of playing for cup points, but this week has his focus firmly on his own career.
With no members of the world's top 50 at Kennemer the KLM Open is a real chance to end his recent barren spell of no top-10 finishes in 14 months. Darren Clarke, another without a top-10 finish this season, is the defending champion.
Labels: RYDER CUP
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Thursday, August 20, 2009
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