Colin Montgomerie ready to take on captain's role again

Published on Tuesday 9 November 2010 14:16

WHILE Colin Montgomerie has ruled himself out of a second stint as Ryder Cup captain, the Scot is taking on the role again when Europe defend another title.

He has agreed to a request from Seve Ballesteros to lead the European team against Asia in the Royal Trophy in January. "I'll be retaining the role of captain and player. I enjoyed the dual role in the previous edition," said Montgomerie of a match Europe won 8-7 in Bangkok.

Next year's renewal will be held at the Black Mountain Golf Club in the Thai beach town of Hua Hin, with Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki leading Asia for the fourth successive year.

Ballesteros, who captained Europe in the first two editions of the event in 2006 and 2007, is still fighting his way back to health after surgery to remove a brain tumour two years ago.

Meanwhile, the prospect of all four of this year's major winners lining up in the field for the Barclays Singapore Open, which starts tomorrow, has been dashed after Open champion Louis Oosthuizen pulled out yesterday due to his ankle injury.

The South African, who spent a month off the course after hurting himself during a hunting trip back home, returned in last week's HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai, but is worried that a brace he was wearing could result in him doing more damage if he kept playing.

Instead, he has headed for Dubai where he will spend the next fortnight resting and receiving treatment before he embarks on a busy end to the season which saw him produce an incredible performance to lift the Claret Jug at St Andrews.

"The problem is the brace is just too tight and along with the bandage I have to put around it, I feel as though I might be doing the ankle more harm than good," said Oosthuizen, who finished well down the field in Shanghai.

Marc Warren's hopes of receiving a late spot in the Singapore event appear to have been dashed, leaving the Scot, who is lying 122nd in the Race to Dubai, facing a return to the Qualifying School next month.