Monty says he will hand over Ryder Cup reins

FROM THE HERALDSCOTLAND WEBSITE
Douglas Lowe at Celtic Manor
Colin Montgomerie described captaining Europe to Ryder Cup triumph yesterday as “the proudest moment in my golfing career” but said it was a one-off and he would be handing over the reins to one of his five vice-captains for the 2012 match at Medinah, Chicago.

The Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal, who formed the most famous all-time Ryder Cup partnership with Seve Ballesteros and who was drafted in this week at the last minute to join the backroom team of Thomas Bjorn, Paul McGinley, Darren Clarke and Sergio Garcia, is favourite to take over following the 14½-13½ victory that went right down to the last match with US Open champion Graeme McDowell capturing the winning point against Hunter Mahan.
Montgomerie, 47, has played in eight Ryder Cups with a record of never having lost in the singles, and Padraig Harrington, a wild-card selection, said: “We wanted to guarantee that his captaincy would do his playing record justice, and it did.”
The first Ryder Cup to come to Wales might have been bedevilled by torrential rain on Friday and Sunday that led to the first Monday finish in the 83-year history of the Ryder Cup, but in the end it turned into another classic thriller.
It was in front a crowd limited to those with Sunday tickets and absenteeism at work in Wales was believed to be at an all-time as 35,000 turned up. Amid sunshine scenes at last, the only drenching that spectators suffered yesterday was from gallons of champagne from the clubhouse balcony.
Montgomerie said: “This is a one-hit time. I’m delighted that Europe have won this trophy, and I will not be doing this again, I can assure you. I think that it’s only right that the captaincy should be shared among very good candidates that we have now in Europe.
“This is the first Ryder Cup that I have attended that I have not actually played; and it is very difficult to play every shot over that radio. I played every shot out there for every game in every match and that’s why I think that this is a one-time hit.
“It’s my proudest moment to captain these fantastic players here this week, and to captain them to success, but this isn’t about me. It’s about the 12 great players. Each one delivered at least half a point out there, and that is why this side won, to get to the famous 14½ points that I have been dreaming of for nearly two years now.
“It was my job to try to manage these great players this week and try to make them feel as comfortable as possible and to play their best. I always said, if they can play to their potential, we would win. I truly believe they did, and therefore, we did. I’m so proud.”