JUSTIN Rose has poured cold water on speculation Ian Poulter chose not to tee up at the Johnnie Walker championship today because he'd already been given 'a nod' from captain Nick Faldo about his place in Europe's Ryder Cup team to play the USA next month.
While Nick Dougherty was one of a number of players at Gleneagles who wondered if Poulter knew his place in the side was safe thanks to the captain's wild cards, Rose, who teed up in Holland last week as well as in Perthshire today in order to
qualify under his own steam, gave no credence to the rumours.
"Personally, I don't believe (Poulter] got the nod," he said. "There are also rumours Paul Casey was given the nod, but I don't know any of that for sure. I think Nick faces a tricky situation. There are three or four guys and you could make a positive case for picking any of them."
In spite of all the unsubstantiated talk about nods and winks, the bookmakers yesterday made Casey at 2-11 and Darren Clarke at 1-4 the odds-on favourites to win wild cards from Faldo with Poulter, 2-1, and Colin Montgomerie, 5-1, also on offer at short prices.
While Rose, who is friendly with Poulter, reckons the Englishman is banking on his runner-up place at the Open and high world ranking to sway the captain, Montgomerie was puzzled Poulter should mention scheduling issues as a reason for withdrawing.
"If he has to play his 15 events in America, he plays his 15 events in America," said the Scot. "You might have thought he'd have known that before he either entered here or pulled out. He's very much his own man and does his own thing."
Montgomerie, a former partner for Faldo in the Ryder Cup, didn't take issue with the suggestion the team would have been stronger if Poulter, with only one top ten finish apart from the Open in 2008, had played his way into the side at Gleneagles.
"Every player who plays his way into the team makes it stronger," he added. "(Poulter] seems to have a hotline to Nick Faldo according to you guys and what I read in the press. I've not spoken to anyone and I'm not sure anyone else has either. So I'll leave that between (Poulter] and the captain."
At a press conference, Monty wouldn't be drawn into discussing whether or not he'd accept a vice-captain's armband from Faldo if he missed out on a pick. He preferred to stress his determination to bounce back as a player at Celtic Manor. But in a BBC radio interview, the Scot said he would consider such an offer, if it was made, because of his desire to assist the European cause.
If Faldo has other lieutenants in mind, and doesn't require Monty's services as a player, the Scot will cheer on Europe from a seat in front of a TV. "Being the only European that's won five Ryder Cups, I'm very honoured to be that person," he said. "I'd be watching and hoping the team make it four wins in a row, which would be exceptional."
In an interview with Golf World magazine, Faldo indicated form would matter more than experience in his wild card decision making process.
The full article contains 566 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
