Sergio Garcia joins Colin Montgomerie's Ryder Cup adventure

Published on Monday 30 August 2010 02:33

SERGIO Garcia has revealed how he jumped at the chance to join Colin Montgomerie's Ryder Cup backroom team - even though he can't bear to be out on a golf course himself at the moment.

The Spaniard, who is taking a self-imposed break after his frustrations boiled over when he attacked a bunker with one of his clubs during the recent USPGA Championship at Whistling Straits, will join Thomas Bjorn, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley in assisting Montgomerie in Wales. "I would love to have been part of it as a player but, unfortunately, I didn't perform well enough and that was solely down to me," said Garcia, so often the European talisman in the event, though he was noticeably subdued in the losing side at Valhalla two years ago.

"I love the Ryder Cup and as soon as Monty and I spoke about the possibility of me coming to Celtic Manor (Montgomerie revealed that discussion had taken place during the Open Championship at St Andrews] as a vice-captain, it was a very easy thing for me to agree to."

With Europe set to blood six rookies in Wales - Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Ross Fisher, Peter Hanson and the Molinari brothers will all be making their first appearances in the biennial event - Garcia is hoping he can put his experience to good effect. "I will try to bring as much to the team as I can and make the players feel as comfortable as possible and, hopefully, help them win the trophy back because that is what we are all going to Wales for," he added.

"We (the assistants] all have masses of Ryder Cup experience and I think Monty is going to bring a huge amount of knowledge and experience.

He is a Ryder Cup man through and through and everybody knows how well he has done in contests against the Americans in the past."

Garcia's compatriot, Miguel Angel Jimenez, secured his place in the team for a fourth time after tying for third behind Edoardo Molinari at Gleneagles, the 46-year-old from Malaga vindicating his decision to miss a family wedding to play in the final qualifying event. However, Jimenez had mixed emotions when he came off the course after being fuming with himself after missing a tap-in at the 17th that effectively cost him his chance of adding to wins in Dubai and France earlier in the year. "It was the sort of stupid thing that sometimes happens," said the Spaniard as he lit up on his trademark cigars to try and let off steam. "I didn't want to putt my feet on my playing partner's line and it was annoying as it cost me my chance of the title."

Once he'd calmed down a bit, Jimenez admitted he was delighted to have secured the last of the two automatic spots along with Swede Peter Hanson, the duo foiling a brave bid from Englishman Simon Dyson, who needed to win at Gleneagles. "It's very important to me and I'm glad to be part of the team again. It means I will have seen three generations in the Ryder Cup," he added.

Hanson, who won last week's Czech Open to leap from 15th on the points table, was also delighted to secure his first appearance: "It feels great. I was very tired coming here and I've been battling trying not to think about making the team. I think I'm going to celebrate tonight - and tomorrow as well."

A little later - after the three wild cards were announced by Montgomerie - the Molinari brothers were celebrating, too, as a consequence of Edoardo's win in Perthshire having secured his Ryder Cup debut alongside sibling Francesco.

"Colin told me he was proud of what I had done," said 29-year-old Edoardo, who was still playing on the Challenge Tour 12 months ago but has seen his career take off since winning the Dunlop Phoenix, the biggest tournament in Japan. "He also said that I had to win to get into the team because I was up against so many strong players. I could tell from the way he said it that if I had finished second then it would not have been good enough. For two brothers to be playing in the Ryder Cup, at that level of sport, is an amazing achievement and hopefully we can perform well for the team."

The pair have a proven track record together after winning the World Cup last year and Edoardo revealed Costantino Rocca, the last Italian to play in the Ryder Cup, can expect a phone call between now and the match in Wales at the beginning of October.

"This will be big for golf in Italy," he observed. "I will be calling Costantino for advice and what we should expect. He has always been great to us and he is a big reason why we are playing together in the Ryder Cup. We saw him on TV and decided that was what we wanted to do.

Now it's going to happen."

After a grand total of 47 events - the race started high in the Swiss Alps at last year's European Masters - Montgomerie now has all the pieces in place for his jigsaw, both players and vice-captains.

The Scot will already have a good idea as to how his pairings will pan out and the only thing that needs to be cleared up now is the slight doubt surrounding Europe's top-ranked player, Lee Westwood.

However, the latest reports on his calf injury sound promising and, on paper at least, Montgomerie will certainly be heading for Celtic Manor with a team that looks more than capable of bring the Ryder Cup back to the side of the Atlantic.