Monty warns Ryder Cup candidates to play at Gleneagles not in US

FROM THE SKYSPORTS.COM WEBSITE
Europe's Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has warned prospective team members that he expects them to be in Scotland during the last week of qualifying rather than America.

The Scot was an outspoken critic of the decision taken by Ian Poulter two years ago to remain in the United States when he could have made the side on points by playing in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
Captain Nick Faldo eventually picked Poulter as a wild card but if Montgomerie's words on Wednesday were anything to go by, contenders who make the same decision this time will be looked upon unfavourably.
"I want to see them showing support for European golf and the European Tour and I will be very, very surprised if they are not there," Montgomerie said on the eve of the Wales Open, over the same Celtic Manor course where October's match takes place.
"That would make a whole lot of sense to a whole lot of people. I am convinced that I will have around eight candidates for three spots.
"You can count on those eight playing at Gleneagles. They will be there."
He added: "Knowing that the two wild card selections last time (Paul Casey was the other, but he could not get in on points by then) were not at Gleneagles you would anticipate that all the so-called possibilities will be playing at Gleneagles, yes."
Pressed on the matter, however, Montgomerie was not prepared to state for certain that any contenders who failed to show were ruling themselves out of a wild card pick.
A sticking point might be the fact that the same week sees the first of the four FedEx Cup play-off series events in the States, with $10million of prize money on offer.
The likes of Poulter, Casey, Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald, Padraig Harrington, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia and Brian Davis are all likely to have qualified for the series.
Poulter and McIlroy have already done just about enough to make it into the side on points - and so will avoid Montgomerie's wrath by being there - as has Lee Westwood, although he is not a US Tour member.
However, the others need a strong summer to avoid the cup race going down to the wire.
Garcia, an ever-present in the side since he became the youngest-ever cup player at the age of 19 in 1999, said last week: "The Ryder Cup is important, but you can't change your whole schedule for it."
Donald, meanwhile, said: "That will be a tough call, whether I can afford to miss a play-off event. I'll have to take it as it comes."
At least the latter has gained favour by turning out for this week's event - Donald's last appearance in a three-week visit which has seen him win the Madrid Masters and contend for the PGA championship.
Montgomerie wanted to see as many contenders as possible play in Wales, but only Donald and German Martin Kaymer are present of the top eight Europeans in the current world rankings.
Six of the present top nine in the points standings - Montgomerie has three wild cards this time compared to Faldo's two - are uncapped players.
McIlroy heads the list and is playing at the Memorial tournament instead, but the other five - Ross McGowan, Kaymer, Simon Dyson, Francesco Molinari and Alvaro Quiros - have the chance to impress, as do Welsh hope Rhys Davies and PGA champion Simon Khan.