Thursday 11 September 2014 08:18, UK
With only 17 days to go before the 2014 Ryder Cup tees-off in Scotland, Colin Montgomerie believes ‘the nerves will already be kicking in’ for those taking part in golf’s greatest team event.
And with tension starting to build ahead of the three-day event at Gleneagles, Europe’s former No 1 golfer thinks many would like the match to be starting tomorrow.
The 51-year-old Scot told Sky Sports News HQ: “With just a few weeks to go the whole team will be nervous, thinking about certain shots they will be hitting.
“I’m certain the players would like the Ryder Cup to start tomorrow.
“There’s a lot of things going on beforehand, such as dinners, practice rounds, and the pressure is building all the time right up to the Friday morning start.
“A lot would love to get it over but this all adds to the beauty of the Ryder Cup, and adds to the excitement.
“It’s a packed three days and we all look forward to it. Hopefully, it will be a great battle between two evenly matched teams.”
Monty, who is currently enjoying an excellent year on the senior tours of both the United States and Europe, does not believe the Jack Nicklaus-designed Centenary Course at Gleneagles will favour either side.
He added: “I don’t think it is much of an advantage to either team to be honest. It is set-up fairly. Paul McGinley (European skipper) has done a great job setting it up. There’s no tricks.
“The course looks superb and is ready for the golf – I drove past the course recently. I travel to America frequently and everyone over there knows it’s a top golfing resort. I just hope the weather is good.”
And Montgomerie, who boasts one of the best individual records in Ryder Cup history, is delighted that his compatriot Stephen Gallacher, was awarded a wild card along with Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood.
He said: “It’s great for Scottish golf and I’m delighted he is there.
“He’ll be nervous but his record around Gleneagles is second to none. He’s won there and I expect Stephen to be one of our top points’ scorers – he’s playing as well as that.”
Regarding McGinley’s wild card selections, he went on: “It’s unfortunate for Luke Donald but someone had to miss out.
“Westwood and Poulter were musts but I really do think that Stephen Gallacher’s performances over the past few months warranted his place in the team.”
Monty in 2014: Winner of two senior majors (PGA Senior Championship and US Senior Open); second on the American Money List behind Bernhard Langer with over $1.8m; runner-up to Langer in the Senior British Open at Royal Porthcawl; back-to-back winner on the European Senior Tour these last two weeks (at Woburn and in Moscow).
Monty’s Ryder Cup record:
Played in Eight matches (1991-93-95-97-99-2002-04-06); Won – 20, Hvd – 7, Lost – 9 (65% success rate); Skippered the winning European team in 2010 at Celtic Manor.
Elizabeth Montgomerie Foundation: Named after his late mother, Monty was speaking to Sky Sports News HQ at the opening of The Elizabeth Montgomerie Building in Airdrie. He said: “This carries my late mother’s name and is a centre for cancer sufferers and their families. It is to provide emotional and practical support in an area (Lanarkshire) which has a high incidence of this terrible disease. Fundraising has been going on for three years and now a dream has become a reality.”
