Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Critic Darren Clarke a surprise Ryder choice by Monty

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
By Martin Dempster
Colin Montgomerie has sprung a surprise by picking Darren Clarke as one of his Ryder Cup vice captains along with the two expected selections, Thomas Bjorn and Paul McGinley.
Clarke, who could still make the team after boosting his chances by finishing second in the Barclays Scottish Open, was a behind-the-scenes critic of the controversial drop Montgomerie took during the 2005 Indonesian Open at Jakarta, where television replays indicated the Scot had incorrectly replaced his ball after an overnight weather delay.
Indeed, it is believed Clarke was trying to make a point when, at the Irish Open the following year, he marked the exact position of his ball in deep rough when play was called off because of bad weather before coming back the next day to see some 'helpful' spectators had trampled down the grass to give him a perfect lie. He could have gone for the green, but instead he chipped out sideways as he probably would have done the previous day.
Clarke is not said to be close to Montgomerie, but there's no doubting the fact they've admired each others' game and competitiveness over the years and have obviously agreed to put whatever differences they may have had in the past to try and help win back the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in October.
Explaining why he'd selected Clarke, Montgomerie said at Wentworth yesterday: "He's a five-time Ryder Cup player and was four times on the winning team. Who can forget, in 2006, the emotion that was played out in front of his home audience in Ireland at The K Club? Passion and commitment to regaining the Ryder Cup spring entirely towards Darren."
Clarke was a hero of the victory Montgomerie referred to only a month after his wife, Heather, died of breast cancer. Montgomerie first approached the 41-year-old two weeks ago, but it was at last week's Open Championship at St Andrews that the Ulsterman agreed to come on board.
Montgomerie and Clarke were team-mates in five matches, winning four of them. Indeed Clarke's first game at Valderrama in 1997 was with the Scot as his fourball partner and they beat Fred Couples and Davis Love on the last. It was thought Montgomerie might go for a Welshman like Phillip Price because of where the match is, but instead he has enlisted the help of Clarke.
"It is an honour to work under Monty and be part of his team in trying to regain the Ryder Cup," said Clarke. "I was asked during The Open and said 'yes' immediately. He said he wanted me there one way or another and is aware that I could still make the side. Monty would want me to play - there's no question of that. If I do happen to play well enough to give him a little bit of an extra headache, not that he hasn't got one at the moment, we shall see. But right now as it stands, I'm outside the team and I'm delighted to be part of his backroom staff."
Asked if differences have been cast aside for the good of the team, he added: "As with anybody you are going to have a few things over which you have disagreements, but those are all in the past. Monty is a figure for everybody to look up to in the Ryder Cup, most definitely. His record of never having been beaten in singles says it all and in terms of the Ryder Cup he has been sensational. I think that's a fair comment.
"You can't argue with that in any shape or form and I think that will continue as captain. He will command a huge amount of respect in that team room and I am 100 per cent committed to help Monty in whatever way I can - as are Paul and Thomas - to get the best out of his team."
Clarke's appointment was welcomed by McGinley, who along with Bjorn had always looked top of the list after being hand-picked by the Scot to be the opposing captains at last September's Vivendi Trophy match between Continental Europe versus Britain and Ireland.
"It (Darren's selection] was a bit of a surprise but he's a great addition," said McGinley. "He's a popular guy who is going to be great in the team room. Everyone knows him and Lee Westwood get on great. There's also going to be a strong Northern Ireland contingent as well with Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy so Darren ticks a lot of boxes."
Montgomerie originally expressed his wish for Jose Maria Olazabal to join him and repeat the role he performed under Sir Nick Faldo in the defeat at Valhalla two years ago. It is believed Olazabal was luke-warm to the idea in any case, but because of rheumatic pains he did not make his first appearance on the European Tour this year until the French Open three weeks ago.
Because of that, Montgomerie decided he wanted three people who were out playing on the Tour week in, week out and revealed he told the Spaniard of his decision in a phone call. "I made that decision on his behalf, I think," he said. "It was a phone call I didn't want to make really due to his passion for the Ryder Cup, but I think Jose Maria will be a Ryder Cup captain in the future.
"I think it is important for the vice captains to be part of the Tour, playing with potential clients for picks and being associated with the players. Unfortunately, Olly, who hasn't played much on the Tour for the last two years, isn't well enough physically at the moment to play four rounds.
"His lack of participation, if you like, was a sign that he wasn't at that stage to be part of a vice captaincy role."

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