Edoardo Molinari's 69 ramps up the Ryder Cup pressure on Colin Montgomerie

Published on Friday 27 August 2010 17:12

IN WORDS and deeds, Edoardo Molinari advanced his claim for a Ryder Cup captain's pick even further in the third round of an intriguing Johnnie Walker championship at Gleneagles yesterday.

Molinari shot a fine 69 to close to within a shot of the leader, who happens to be his younger brother, Francesco, already a member of Colin Montgomerie's team for Celtic Manor. He then followed it up with some comments that will have made Monty gulp. "If I win this championship, I would be very upset if he (Monty] didn't pick me," said the 29-year-old Italian. "If you win the last event and you don't get picked, there's something seriously wrong. I expect, if I finish top-three, he's going to pick me. I haven't spoken to him, so I'm guessing. This is the way I see things."

Montgomerie gave an impromptu press conference shortly after Molinari finished his round. It is believed he is currently favouring Padraig Harrington, Paul Casey and Luke Donald, three who have shunned the Johnnie Walker in favour of the FedEx Cup in America, but all of that may be about to change.

"It would make my headache even worse (if Edoardo was to win] and it's a lovely headache to have," said Montgomerie. "It's an obvious partnership (the brothers Molinari] and it's a criteria that I've got to be putting forward here. I feel now that I can look at not just the strength of individual players, but who is playing with who, even at this stage. And that's a great advantage to have. The World Cup suggested that (the Molinaris are a formidable matchplay partnership]. We wish them both well tomorrow, especially the younger brother.

"He's doing the same as Peter Hanson did last week, coming to an event having to win to make my decision even harder than it is and all credit to him. Same for Simon Dyson (who is only two shots behind the leader]. He has to win to get in automatically and I think both of them are doing superbly well and it's a credit to the European tour and the strength of it to come here and perform the way they are. Fantastic."

Montgomerie had dinner with vice-captains Thomas Bjorn and Paul McGinley last night. Darren Clarke will fly into Scotland this morning. Asked what was going to be on the menu when they met up, Monty replied: "Something good. Something Italian."

He is due to make his announcement just after 6pm this evening.