Colin Montgomerie waits on naming vice-captains

Published on Thursday 4 February 2010 22:09

RYDER Cup captain Colin Montgomerie will not announce his vice-captains until after July's Open Championship at St Andrews at the earliest.

American counterpart Corey Pavin yesterday named former Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman, Davis Love, Jeff Sluman and Paul Goydos as his vice-captains for October's showdown at Celtic Manor. Montgomerie's predecessor Nick Faldo named Paul McGinley as his vice-captain at May's BMW PGA Championship in 2008, a move which led to the Irishman to later decline the role as he still had hopes of qualifying for Valhalla.

"There will be nothing announced on Europe's part until at least after the British Open this year, so that's the third week in July at least before any announcement is made," said Montgomerie. "I want to give everybody an opportunity of qualifying for the team and we will know more about what the qualifying situation is around that time."

Montgomerie is believed to be considering Thomas Bjorn, Jose Maria Olazabal – who was Faldo's only vice-captain – and McGinley for the role.

Europe's nine qualifiers will be confirmed after August's Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles before Montgomerie completes the 12-man team with three wild cards.

As for Pavin's vice-captains, Montgomerie said: "I don't really have any thoughts, I was never going to have any thoughts at all. That's up to him and the American team and I wish them well."

One talking point, however, is that two of Pavin's picks have never competed in the matches against Europe.

The only assistant not considered a surprise was Lehman, one of Pavin's closest friends. Lehman was the Ryder Cup captain in Ireland in 2006 and chose Pavin as one of his assistants.

The big surprise was Goydos, although the announcement brought a thumbs-up from Phil Mickelson. "That'll be cool," the world No2 said.

Goydos said his only Ryder Cup experience has been watching it on TV. Even so, he is among the most popular US PGA Tour players in the locker room because of his dry wit and honest opinions.

Pavin thought the lack of experience would be an advantage. "He is unconventional, thinks outside the box, and is an excellent judge of character and talent," he said.

The Americans will defend the Ryder Cup from 1-3 October in Wales. Sluman is a former US PGA champion who never made a Ryder Cup team, but has plenty of experience. He was the assistant to Jack Nicklaus for three straight years in the Presidents Cup.

Love was somewhat of a surprise because at 45, the 20-time US PGA Tour winner still hopes to make the team for the first time since 2004. He is expected to be a Ryder Cup captain, perhaps as early as 2012 in Medinah.

"I get to try to make the team, and if I don't make the team, I still get to go. I think it's an honour for me to be in this group," said Love.