Golf: Woosie reckons Monty has got a tough job

WINNING Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam won't envy Colin Montgomerie when the Scot sits down to select his wild cards for this year's match in Wales.

"Monty is going to find it difficult picking three players," said Woosnam, who led the Europeans to a record-equalling win at The K Club in 2006. "I wouldn't like to be in his shoes."

According to the little Welshman, his task was more straightforward than this year's captain will face after the qualifying race ends following the Johnnie Walker Championship at the end of August. "My list was quite extensive but I was able to whittle it down to three players," he added. "I picked one and another two came in."

Woosnam asked not to be considered for one of Montgomerie's vice-captain's position at Celtic Manor so that he could concentrate on being an ambassador for Wales.

But the former Masters champion is still hopeful the team itself will have some Welsh representation. "Rhys Davies has been playing really well," he noted. "I think if he can have another good finish he has a good shot of being on that team."

No matter who makes the side, Montgomerie's men are going to start as favourites, even though the Americans hold the trophy after winning convincingly at Valhalla two years ago.

Woosnam, for one, is hoping the Europeans don't start feeling over-confident as that could spell disaster.

"You can start being too confident," he warned. "I would rather just keep it quiet a little bit. We're going to have a strong team but anything can happen in matchplay - anyone can win over 18 holes."

Woosnam, who was speaking before setting out in his first round in the Senior Open Championship at Carnoustie, says the face of golf has changed hugely since he burst on to the scene in the 80s.

"I think golf has blossomed over the last 20 years," he said. "With Tiger Woods, he's made it a sexy sport and everybody wants to be involved. You've got the (Ian] Poulters and other players like him, it's great.

"More younger players are playing and the opportunities are also better.

"The development of the game has changed a lot and that's why so many people are competitive. If you look, there's not too many different kind of golf swings.

"You might get the Rickie Fowlers who have a slightly different swing but you don't change a swing like that.

"He just naturally plays that way, but most of the swings are pretty much the same. It comes down to the guy who wants to work harder and who wants to win the most."Woosnam is particularly pleased to see British players making their mark in America, where Poulter, Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and Justin Rose have all won this season and Scotland's Martin Laird tasted success in 2009.

"It's good to see that the guys can go to America and not only compete but make a fortune there," he said.

The top seniors can rake in the cash too, particularly on the Champions Tour in the States.

They've also shown they can still compete against the young guns in majors.

In last year's Open at Turnberry, Tom Watson came within a short putt on the last green of winning his sixth Claret Jug at the age of 59.

And, in last week's event at St Andrews, four golden oldies - Tom Lehman, Mark Calcavecchia, Peter Senior and Tom Pernice - all qualified for the last two rounds.

Asked if he believed a senior could still win a regular major, Woosie said: "Yes, especially on a sea links course because you don't have to be super-long there.

"The ball runs, the fairways are running. Half the time you have to hit irons (from the tees] and it's about positional play.

"It could maybe happen in the US Open as well where it's not too long and you have to get the ball in the fairway. The USPGA is also set up the same.

"The Masters is still long - I can't see a senior winning around there. But I can see it happening in The Open."

While happy playing his golf on the European Senior circuit these days, Woosnam admits he'd like the chance to do a bit more design work in tandem with DJ Russell, the man who laid out the two courses at Archerfield Links and is based there.

"We are trying but the world is in a bit of a slump at the moment," he said. "So there's not many people spending much money on golf courses. We are just going to have to be patient until a few jobs come our way."