Rhys Davies will be Monty's buggy

driver at Ryder Cup

FROM THE BBC SPORTS WEBSITE
Rhys Davies insists he is not the token Welshman in Colin Montgomerie's Europe team for the first Ryder Cup in Wales.
Davies has been awarded an unofficial role in captain Montgomerie's backroom team at the Celtic Manor in October.
"Colin really wants me there to gain the experience of what it is like at a Ryder Cup," said Wales' number one.
The 25-year-old missed out on a Ryder Cup place in his rookie season but won a role as Montgomerie believes Davies is a 'Ryder Cup player of the future.'
Davies is the Celtic Manor's Ryder Cup course record holder after his 62 at this year's Wales Open where he finished runner-up to European team member and subsequent US Open champion Graeme McDowell.
The young Welshman - (Editor: He was born in Edinburgh actually) - will be Montgomerie's "personal buggy driver" in Newport at the golfing showpiece between October 1-3 after the world number 52 missed out on a place in the European team.
Davies secured a maiden win in his first season on the European Tour at the Hassan II Championship in Morocco in March and enjoyed five other top six finishes - including his second at June's Wales Open.

And Davies, son of a Welsh table tennis international, expectedly missed out on one of Monty's three wild card picks as Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald and Edoardo Molinari were chosen to make up the 12-man European team who will bid to regain the Ryder Cup from the Americans at Celtic Manor.
European captain Colin Montgomerie explains Rhys Davies appointment
But Davies insists his role as Montgomerie's driver at his home Ryder Cup "makes up" for the disappointment of missing out on the team.

"It has helped overcome the disappointment of not making the team," Davies told BBC Sport.

"Hearing that you are not picked to play in the Ryder Cup is disappointing to an extent as I worked so hard to be in a team like that but at start of the season it was so far off my radar.

"So I believe truly to come as close as I did was an achievement in itself and I suppose be included by Colin is a recognition of that and that pleases me to a large amount.

"I'm not just the token Welshman at all and Colin emphasised that.

"Two years ago in Valhalla, Martin Kaymer fulfilled a very similar role and it is obvious to see the success he has had in recent years and that was in a big way of being part of a Ryder Cup team.

"I guess this is something Monty thought of with his vice captains and perhaps the tour in general and I'm thrilled to be included in that kind of position."

German Kaymer has secured his spot in the 2010 European team after winning the US PGA Championship and moving to fifth in the golf world rankings.

And Davies, hailed by Montgomerie as "the guy with the $1m putting stroke," revealed the 'huge morale boost' of Ryder Cup great Monty considering him a Ryder Cup star of "the very near future."

Montgomerie played in eight European Ryder Cup teams - winning five - and  never lost in a singles match and his points scored tally of 23.5 is only 1.5 points behind all-time record-holder Nick Faldo.
"Colin's comments were a huge honour," said Davies.

"It was a very flattering comment from someone who really knows about the Ryder Cup and has achieved a huge amount of success in the Ryder Cups.

"And that emphasises the belief he has in me and it gives myself some confidence as people may think of me in that way."

Europe's victorious 2006 Ryder Cup skipper Ian Woosnam ruled out being on Montgomerie's backroom team after the Scot beat him to the role of 2010 European captain.

Monty also overlooked Welsh Ryder Cup hero Phil Price, who starred in Europe's 2002 win at the Belfry, as part of his backroom team while Davies was the closest player in the Ryder Cup qualification place as he finished 15th.