Monty backs Manassero to set Ryder Cup age record

COLIN Montgomerie believes Sergio Garcia could well lose his record as the Ryder Cup’s youngest-ever player next September.

With qualifying starting in Switzerland today, last year’s winning captain is tipping 18-year-old Italian Matteo Manassero to be among the new faces in Jose Maria Olazabal’s side.

“I’d expect him to make it,” said Montgomerie of a player who since the start of last season has moved up from 570th in the world to 30th.

Garcia was 19 years and eight months old when his cup debut came in Boston in 1999. Manassero would be 19 years and five months if he earns a place for Medinah in Chicago.

“I’ve thought about it, obviously,” said the youngest-ever British amateur champion and youngest-ever European Tour winner, whose third place in the Omega European Masters a year ago was followed by his first victory on the circuit a month later.

“I’m seeing improvements in my game, I’m hitting the ball further and I will try and play well.”

There has never been a Ryder Cup team, European or American, that stayed together from one match to the next.

In addition to those who might force their way back in – Garcia, Justin Rose, Paul Casey, Robert Karlsson and Open champion Darren Clarke fit into that category – Montgomerie has no trouble identifying four uncapped possibles.

He describes Dane Anders Hansen, third in the USPGA Championship last month, as “the most improved golfer in Europe this year” and will be surprised if long-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros and his fellow Scot Martin Laird are not contending as well.

The big problem for US-based Laird is that he will not be taking up European Tour membership again until January and so is giving everyone else a four-month start in the points race.

There are also wildcards but, on taking over, Olazabal asked for only two of those, one fewer than Montgomerie. If there are going to be changes, of course, there are going to be players who do not retain their spots. Padraig Harrington, a controversial captain’s pick for Celtic Manor has since fallen from 18th in the rankings to 71st.

Ross Fisher has dropped from 26th to 70th and Edoardo Molinari from 15th to 52nd, while Miguel Angel Jimenez – this week’s defending champion – will be 48 next January and Peter Hanson has not won an event since last year’s match.

Olazabal will not be short of star quality. Luke Donald and Lee Westwood are at the top of the rankings, while Martin Kaymer is fourth and Rory McIlroy sixth.

It is a measure of the current strength of European golf that, if Olazabal was going straight down the rankings for his dozen, then Manassero would be the last man in at 30th.