In a surprising move, Colin Montgomerie has pulled his name from consideration for the 2006 European Ryder Cup captaincy. Citing age as his primary reason, though not old age, but rather that he’s too young, Monty has declared that it is time to step up his game and get back into the top 25 of the world rankings. After slipping from 41st to 80th in the rankings just this past year, it’s hard not to agree with him. He needs a new spark and his shining performance this past year at Oakland Hills, as he sank the winning putt, may just be what the doctor ordered.
“I’ve been told I’m too young,” said Montgomerie, and when asked who had told him that, he replied: “Everybody. And after hearing it, I possibly have to agree.
“I think I can play in (in the 2006 Matches in) Ireland and possibly the next couple,” he added. “My current world ranking is ridiculous and I want to get back in the top 25 next year. I know I can, in fact I know I am a top-10 player really.”
Top-10? Well, I’m sure quite a few people would have a problem with that statement. But even for myself and my general distaste for all things Monty, for him to be 80th on the world ranking just doesn’t seem to fit. Granted, he can’t seem to play well on the PGA Tour, but he lights up the European scoreboards and consistently places among the tops on the European Order of Merit (the across-the-pond version of the money list). In fact, if you don’t factor in 2004’s 25th place and 2003’s 28th place, his average Order of Merit ranking was 4 from 1999-2002.
At any rate, according to the announcement, the European Tour’s tournament committee, of which Montgomerie is a member, is expected to discuss the captaincy next Monday, and will first of all have to decide whether they want to ask Bernhard Langer to stay in charge.
“It’s our job to select the captain who will win the thing,” added Montgomerie. “It’s his to say ‘no’ to really and if he says he wants to do it again then there’s your captain.
1 thought on “Monty Sidesteps Ryder Cup Captaincy”