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Montgomerie open to Ryder Cup role

03/10/2007

Colin Montgomerie says he would be "delighted" to adopt a vice captain's role at next year's Ryder Cup if he does not qualify as part of the playing team.

Paul McGinley quit the job of vice captain last week to concentrate on trying to qualify for one of the 12 playing places in the team.

Montgomerie believes captain Nick Faldo should wait until just before the event before naming McGinley's successor.

The Scot says he could be persuaded to take on the responsibility whether he is part of the playing team or not.

He said: "I'd be delighted to help the cause in any way. As a playing vice captain? Could be.

"One of the best selections we've had in the past ten years was Thomas Bjorn in 2004," added the Scot.

"He didn't make the team a month before the event and was given an assistant captain's role and did a brilliant job."

Montgomerie claims the vice captain's are not able to be particularly helpful until the build-up to the event commences and feels that the incumbent should not be named until the team has been decided.

"That to me is when the vice captains should be selected, when we know the team and when we know that certain experienced Ryder Cup players have maybe missed the team. They can then help the captain at that stage," he concluded.

Montgomerie is currently 35th in the European Ryder Cup points list but has won 23 ½ points across his Ryder Cup career, making him the second most successful European in the event's history behind Faldo.