Monty vows to get Olazabal on board for Ryder Cup

European captain wants Spaniard to be his right hand man at Celtic Manor

European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has revealed he is determined to convince Jose Maria Olazabal to take up the role of assistant captain at Celtic Manor in October.

After taking on the assistant’s role alongside captain Nick Faldo in the United States in 2008, Olazabal said he was not keen to play second-string a second time. However, the 44-year-old has been plagued by rheumatic problems since the start of the season – and Montgomerie is keen to put the offer on the table for him once more.

“With his experience and from what I heard from the players in 2008, how good he was – and I’m sure he’ll be a fine captain of the future – he would be invaluable to our team,” said the Scot, who also names Paul McGinley and Thomas Bjorn as potential candidates for an assistant role.

“I know he was disenchanted with the idea of doing it again, but I’m not ruling him out.”

His health problems have ruled Olazabal out of this week’s Spanish Open at Seville’s Real Club course, which he designed. However, he does hope to be fit enough to compete in the Majorca Open at Pula, another of his projects, in a fortnight’s time.

Meanwhile, Montgomerie has confirmed that while he is keen to get Bjorn and McGinley on board, he must first give them the opportunity to make the team as a player.

“I’ve got to give them a chance through the Open,” he said. “Thomas and Paul are talented enough to go and win the Open. Then what happens? I don’t want them having to resign because they want to make the team.”

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered