Monty open to 2014 captaincy

Victorious 2010 captain Montgomerie would accept role ‘if offered’

In about turn from comments just weeks ago, victorious 2010 Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has indicated that he could be convinced, should he be approached, to captain Europe for Scotland’s Ryder Cup in 2014.

Following his European team’s dramatic triumph over the United States at Celtic Manor last October, Montgomerie had stressed that he would not be seeking the position again.

Former Ryder Cup player and previous candidate for the captaincy Sandy Lyle has suggested that Montgomerie would be the ideal candidate to lead Europe against the United States at Gleneagles; a venue where eight-time European order of merit winner Monty is currently constructing a home.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Colin gets invited back. He knows the course, the surrounding area, what’s needed there and what’s not needed,” said Lyle.

“I think he would be the man to choose unless someone like Darren Clarke or Paul McGinley feels he is next in line.”

Jose Maria Olazabal has taken the reigns from Montgomerie for the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah, Chicago. No European captain since Bernard Gallacher has held the position on more than one occasion, despite emphatic and emotional victories for Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam and Sam Torrance.

Though eager to underline he would not be put himself forward for the captaincy, Montgomerie did concede that, given the proper circumstance, he would be amenable to the suggestion were he offered the position by the European Tour.

“I don’t know where Sandy is coming from but that’s just his own opinion, I suppose,” Montgomerie told reporters ahead of the European Tour’s first event on home soil, this week’s Andalucian Open.

“But whether or not I am captain in 2014 depends on how things go in 2012 and what the committee’s feeling are.

“I am just there to support the tour, as I’ve always said,” Montgomerie added.

“Anyway, I am sure I will be involved because of my affiliation with Gleneagles whatever that might be.

“But if asked again, and because of my involvement for and with the tour over the years, I would have to accept. Only if they wanted me.

“But they would have to approach me. I wouldn’t be approaching them.”

Montgomerie tees it up this week at the Andalucian Open, the first European Tour event of the season to be played on the continent itself.

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