COLIN Montgomerie has settled his differences with Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo, but remains philosophical about his chances of making next year's team.
After being criticised by Faldo in September for an apparent lack of team spirit at the Seve Trophy – the tournament which pits Britain and Ireland against continental Europe – Monty countered by saying such comments should have been directed to hi
m personally instead of through the media.
That led to an uncomfortable few weeks in their relationship, with Montgomerie admitting last week that the pair were not on speaking terms. But the eight times European Order of Merit winner said yesterday that their disagreement has now all been cleared up.
"I've spoken to Nick and it's fine. It doesn't concern me," said the 44-year-old, who has played in eight Ryder Cups. "Nick is his own man. He's a very, very individual man."
Montgomerie is a long way from qualifying for the biennial event against America, but there are nine months to go before the team is finalised and the Scot is confident he can play for a ninth time. If he does not qualify to play at Valhalla in Louisville, Montgomerie insists he would take it in his stride. So often Europe's talisman in the biennial competition, he accepts his place on Faldo's team is by no means guaranteed.
"It's just one of these things if it doesn't happen," he said. "I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. I'd just make sure I qualified in 2010. Simple as that really. I'm nowhere near it now because I made a particularly poor start to the qualifying situation, but I know if I play well in 2008 I'll qualify.
"I've had one pick out of my eight (Ryder Cup appearances]. I've qualified seven times. If I get to 12 or 13 on the list, I might get picked again. Nick knows the situation and so do I."
With the hatchet with Faldo seemingly buried, Montgomerie believes it is paramount for Europe to maintain the team unity that has helped them win the Ryder Cup five times in the last six years.
"Let's hope the ambiance of our European team remains as it has done throughout that time, meaning that we go in there relaxed, we go in there as a team," he said of next year's contest in Louisville, Kentucky.
A veteran of nine Ryder Cups as a player, Montgomerie expects the 2008 matches to be as tough as any he has experienced. "No one likes to lose four times in a row, especially at home; three times is bad enough," he said of the US bid to end a run of three European consecutive victories.
"(US captain] Paul Azinger being as tough a competitor as he is will have this right down and I think this will be as tough a Ryder Cup as we've ever experienced, in a competitive way."
Montgomerie expects the Americans to field a much stronger team next year after doubling their captain's picks from two to four. "There were three people on their team who won their singles in 2006, Tiger (Woods] and the two picks," he said. Woods and wildcard selections Stewart Cink and Scott Verplank were the only US players to win their singles matches at the K Club in Ireland last year when the Europeans won by a record-equalling 18 points to 9. "The two picks are the strength of the team in my opinion, so to have four would be even stronger," Montgomerie added.
After sharing in Scotland's breakthrough victory at the World Cup in China last month, Montgomerie is in high spirits for this week's 16-man event at Sherwood Country Club, which got underway last night.
"I'm looking forward to doing quite well here," added the 31-times European Tour winner. "I've done okay here over the years."
Montgomerie has posted three top-five finishes in five appearances at Sherwood, including a tie for third in 2004 after leading by two strokes going into the final round.
The full article contains 681 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
