Sky Sports - Ryder Cup

Colin Mongomerie believes Europe's Ryder Cup rookies will hold the key to making it four in a row.

Oliver Wilson, Justin Rose, Graham McDowell and Soren Hansen will all be experiencing the unique atmosphere for the first time at Valhalla.

And while the likes of Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood might be the leading lights when it comes to Nick Faldo's hopes of retaining the trophy, Montgomerie believes it will all boil down to the new boys.

Montgomerie, speaking exclusively to Sky Sports for the Ryder Cup Countdown shows, was in the same side as another quartet of rookies in 2002, that beat the United States at The Belfry.

Back then Phillip Price, Niclas Fasth, Pierre Fulke and Paul McGinley all avoided defeat on the Sunday as Europe edged a 15½-12½ success.

And with another four new faces playing this time around, the Scot believes a repeat performance is needed in Kentucky.

"Over the years I look back to 2002 and my first view of it and it (the key to winning the Ryder Cup) is how the rookies do," he told Sky Sports.

"You tend to forget there was four rookies in our 2002 team of Sam Torrance - and neither one of those rookies lost a singles match."

Perform

Much has been made of Faldo's foursome and fourballs pairings in the run-up to Valhalla and it has not been unknown for rookies not to strike a ball until the Sunday.

But even if that is the case, Montgomerie believes, with six new faces in Paul Azinger's team, holding your own in the singles is the most important aspect of any Ryder Cup debut.

"To get to four in a row, the rookies have to be prepared - however it might be - to perform in the singles," he said.

"That's how it's going to be to win four in a row, which will be an incredible achievement. For that to happen I think the rookies have to perform in the singles.

"People tend to forget; They talk about Sam's strength and all that but the reason we won in 2002 was the four rookies at the end - that's why we won that Ryder Cup."