Montgomerie hopes Woods is on top form at Ryder Cup

Published on Monday 12 October 2009 22:56

COLIN Montgomerie has admitted it will be an even better feeling if he can lead Europe to victory in next year's Ryder Cup with Tiger Woods, the world No1, firing on all cylinders for the Americans at the Celtic Manor Resort in South Wales.

The Scot was speaking in the wake of Woods winning five points out of five and clinching the victory for Fred Couples' side with a 6 & 4 success over Korean Y E Yang, the USPGA champion, in the singles as the United States beat the Internationals 19-14 in the Presidents Cup at Harding Park in San Francisco less than 24 hours earlier.

While admitting, on one hand, that an in-form Woods, who has failed to perform to his full potential in five previous Ryder Cups, would probably make it harder for Europe to regain the trophy next October, on the other Montgomerie conceded it would be a sweeter win for the home side to beat opponents with him in their ranks.

"It is very interesting that he seems to have got the hang of this team game now as well as the individual one," said Montgomerie. "No European player has ever achieved five points out of five in the Ryder Cup and only a couple of Americans, one of them Larry Nelson, have done it in the Ryder Cup. That proves how fantastic that feat is."

Speaking as he sat alongside his American counterpart, Corey Pavin, at a press conference at the Newport venue as part of the 'One Year To Go' celebrations, the Scot added: "It is difficult enough for us to try and regain the Ryder Cup without Tiger Woods, never mind him being back to top form.

However, I think it would make it – and I hate to say this in front of Corey and our other American friends here – an even better win for us if we can regain the Ryder Cup with Tiger Woods in it."

One of the biggest headaches for the captains of the teams Woods has played in so for in the biennial event has been finding a suitable partner for him in the foursomes and fourballs.

Hal Sutton got it spectacularly wrong when he teamed Woods with Phil Mickelson on the opening morning at Oakland Hills in 2004 and, although less of a surprise, he didn't gel as well with Jim Furyk as some people had been expecting at the K Club two years later.

It appears that Woods, who missed last year's win by the Americans at Valhalla, has now found his perfect partner after joining forces with Steve Stricker to win four matches together in the Presidents Cup. Though Pavin said he was keeping his options open, it is surely a certainty that we'll see that pairing in action in the next Ryder Cup.

"I have not made any pairings yet," said the former US Open champion. "First and foremost, Tiger and Steve have to make the team and it's a long time from now, so we'll see. They are playing fantastically well and, when you put two players like that together, they are going to be a tough team to beat."

Montgomerie and Pavin both spoke passionately about the etiquette they expected to see from fans in Wales.

Last year, during a pep rally in the centre of Louisville on the eve of the match, Paul Azinger, the American captain, stood in front of thousands of American fans and told them: "You can cheer their missed putts."

Asked if he felt that was acceptable next year, Montgomerie said: "No, it's not OK to cheer for a missed putt – it never has been and never should be. You'll know if a European putt goes in and you'll know if an American putt goes in – there will be different cheers.

"However, there should be no animosity to any American player and, if there is, I will be the first person to stamp that out."

Pavin added:

"This is a competition among friends. We are friends before, during and after – but during the match that friendship is a little quieter."