Colin Montgomerie

criticises Ian Poulter

for GB&I no show

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By MARK REASON
Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has criticised Ian Poulter's decision not to play for Great Britain and Ireland in this week's Vivendi Trophy. Monty felt that Poulter’s no show was a failure to pay his dues after the Englishman had received a wild card to play in last years Ryder Cup.
Speaking on the eve of the match between GB&I and Continental Europe at Saint-Nom-la-Breteche, near Paris, Monty said of Poulter: “Not having qualified for the Tour Championship and having been picked for the last Ryder Cup team a little more effort might have been made to come here.”
That may sound mild, but in the context of the diplomatic language used by a Ryder Cup captain it was close to a bawling out. Monty deliberately singled out Poulter from the other absentees because Poulter had been given a wild card into the 2008 Ryder Cup.
Monty, pictured above in Ryder Cup action, reiterated that “more of an effort might well have been made” by Poulter because of that debt and then repeated his disappointment on BBC radio. The Ryder Cup captain is in France as an interested observer and was anxious later that he had not spoken out of turn. Maybe some things are better said in private.
However, Poulter tweeted: “It would have been great to play [in the Vivendi], but it’s so important not to burn out. I really want to be fresh and strong for all of the Ryder Cup qualifying events that I’m going to play in. Ryder Cup means everything to me.” Poulter added that Monty would be an inspirational captain.
There is a lot of history between Monty and Poulter. Four years ago when this competition was called 'The Seve Trophy’, Monty reprimanded Poulter for practising rather than supporting his teammates. At last year’s European Open Poulter then had a go at Monty for making too much noise.
The row reached a climax in the lead-up to Nick Faldo’s picks ahead of the 2008 Ryder Cup. Monty said that Poulter seemed to have a “hotline” to the captain.
Poulter responded by saying: “Monty has enough work to do to try to make the side, he should be getting his head down.” Monty then said: “It’s nice to be told what to do by one so young and inexperienced.”
Several other players are absent this week, but only Poulter, Justin Rose, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia are not either excused by injury or a commitment to play in the Tour Championship in America.
Paul McGinley, the GB&I captain, said: “I’ve always been a great team player and whenever I’ve got picked for a team I play. Others guys see it another way. I might not agree with it, but I respect that they have a different opinion.
“Lee is the only one who rang me and explained why he wasn’t going to play. As I say, I didn’t agree with him and I don’t agree with him, but I respect that he’s his own man and he can make his own decisions.”
Thomas Bjorn, the captain of Continental Europe, was reluctant to comment on Garcia’s absence but he did stir things up by saying: “When you’re a Continental European there’s nothing better than beating Brits.”
It was all very in the spirit of Seve, who was the orginal force behind this competiton. There is a plane on standby to fly Seve in on Sunday morning if he feels up to it, but at the moment the Spaniard is pretty unwell after a second course of radiotherapy.
Rory McIlroy has never met Ballesteros, but he was moved by a letter that Seve sent to the two teams. McIlroy, who is making his debut in professional team competition, said: “There was bit right at the end that said: 'It seemed like only yesterday when I came on Tour. It went so quickly. Make the most of it and enjoy your time out here because it doesn’t last for very long.’”
McIlroy, meanwhile, says he has revised his opinion of the Ryder Cup. Earlier this year, the 20 year-old branded the event an "exhibition" and was not "a huge goal" of his.
"I take my comments back a little bit and this is a great opportunity for me to show what I can do in a team event," McIlroy said