Monty riled by absence of Poulter at Paris event

Published on Wednesday 23 September 2009 22:43

RYDER Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has singled out Ian Poulter for criticism over his absence from this week's Vivendi Trophy match in Paris.

Six players from Britain and Ireland and two from Continental Europe are not at St-Nom la Breteche for what used to be called the Seve Trophy.

Paul Casey and Martin Kaymer are injured and Padraig Harrington and Luke Donald are playing in the Tour Championship in Atlanta, but Poulter joined Lee Westwood, Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia in turning down their places on teams led by Paul McGinley and Thomas Bjorn.

"I just feel that when you are selected for your country more of an effort might well have been made," said Montgomerie, who is in attendance to watch potential members of his side for Celtic Manor next October.

"Ian Poulter, not having qualified for the Tour Championship and having been picked for the last Ryder Cup team (Westwood, Rose and Garcia all qualified], I felt that a little more effort might have been made to come here.

"I spoke to Miguel Angel Jimenez. He's never missed one of these and never would miss one. Good for him and I'm the same and Paul McGinley's the same and Thomas.

"I haven't spoken to Ian at all. Please don't make any big issue of this. I would like to focus on the players that are here and not the players that aren't. It does give an opportunity for those who wouldn't otherwise have played to impress not just the captains and their team-mates, but me also."

McGinley said: "I've always been a great team player and whenever I've got picked for a team I play. Lee is the only one who rang me and explained why he wasn't going to play. I didn't agree with him and I don't agree with him, but I respect that he's his own man and he can make his own decisions."