Monty's fall from top 100 could signal Ryder Cup with no Scottish presence

NOT since the 1937 Ryder Cup at Southport and Ainsdale, when America won in Britain for the first time, has the biennial match play contest unfolded without a contribution from a Scottish golfer. But with the nation's leading player, Colin Montgomerie, falling out of the world's top 100 yesterday for the first time since 1990, the prospect of a Ryder Cup without a Scottish presence is growing evermore real.

On the last occasion the event was Scot free, Neville Chamberlain was Prime Minister, George Formby was all the rage on the radio with Leaning on a Lampost, Joe Louis was world heavyweight champion and the first issue of the Dandy had just been published.

The 1930s were hardly a golden era for Scottish golf since no Scot represented Britain in either the 1935 contest at Ridgewood country club in New Jersey or the 1933 duel, also at Southport, which the home side won by a point. For more than 70 years since then, though, players from the home of golf have been intimately involved with the competition.

Although it isn't out of the question a hot summer of golf from either Alastair Forsyth or Colin Montgomerie could yet ensure a Scottish presence when the 2008 match gets underway at Valhalla in Louisville this September, the possibility of Europe taking on America without a player from the home of golf for the first time since the match embraced the continent in 1979 is a real possibility.

In the latest European standings, Forsyth, in 19th spot, is the only Scot ranked in the top 20 on the world points list. The Paisley golfer is also 24th on the European list. Thanks to a victory earlier this season at the Madeira Islands Open and a runner-up finish at the Estoril Open, Forsyth, in 95th place, is currently the only Scot rated in the world's top 100. He also did himself and Scottish golf a favour last night by qualifying to join Montgomerie at next week's US Open in California.

The confirmation that Montgomerie had dropped out of the world's top 100 for the first time in 18 years – he's 102nd – should be no great surprise since the prolific order of merit winner has not finished inside the top 40 at a strokeplay event on either the European or PGA Tours since January.

While it would be premature to write Monty's golfing obituary, it's probably fair to surmise in his mid 40s that the Scot's most consistent days are now behind him. In the seasons ahead he will still win tournaments and contend when he plays his best golf. Whether or not the most prolific British winner in European Tour history will add to his eight money titles or come closer to winning a major title than he did at the 2006 US Open is up for debate. On the other hand, Montgomerie's competitive instincts remain as strong as ever.

Having been an ever present at the Ryder Cup since 1991 and helped Europe to win five matches, the possibility of facing the USA without him is almost unthinkable. Even if he doesn't qualify for the 2008 team, the one certainty is Monty will be even more passionate about competing at Celtic Manor in 2010.

Given how long Montgomerie, who celebrates his 45th birthday later this month, shouldered the responsibility of Scotland's foremost golfer on the international stage, the time is surely overdue when others should step up to the mark.

Like Paul Lawrie, the former Open champion who runs his own junior foundation and freely gives his time to encourage emerging players, Monty is keen to encourage a new generation of Scots to take up the game. He visited a golf course in Hawick, for example, earlier this month and delivered a 45-minute tutorial to a group of youngsters before answering questions and signing autographs.

According to Sandy Jones, chief executive of the Professional Golfers Association and a member of Europe's Ryder Cup board, the possibility of Europe facing the USA without a Scot in the team should not prompt an outbreak of wailing and gnashing of teeth. "Colin and Marc winning the World Cup in China last year was an outstanding achievement and it would be wide of the mark to suggest Scotland was devoid of top-class players," he said. "But the international aspect of golf is now so massive and so many countries are producing professionals and investing in elite players that the level of competition is higher.

"Personally, I think Scotland is doing okay. And I sincerely believe that the junior programmes which have been put in place will eventually pay dividends. Now, whether they will produce another world-class player who could feature when the Ryder Cup comes to Gleneagles in 2014 remains to be seen.

"The paradox of the current situation, when there's a dearth of top 100 players, is that more time, thought and money has been invested in developing Scottish golf than ever before. But these things take time and go in cycles."