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Montgomerie: responsibility
"It is a huge responsibility I've been given here and one I will take extremely seriously. No stone will be left unturned to try and win the Ryder Cup back."
Colin Montgomerie
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Colin Montgomerie told Golf Night he believes home support will be a decisive factor in Europe's attempt to reclaim the Ryder Cup in 2010.
The Scot, who will lead Europe into the 38th Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor, Wales next year praised the American fans for their support during USA's victory in Kentucky in 2008 and expects the European fans to produce an even better atmosphere in 2010. "The home course advantage, which we'll have in Wales, is worth a point and a half or two points," said Montgomerie.
"I'm sure the support at the Belfry in 2002 made us win that event; got Paul McGinley to that last green and enabled him to hole that 10-footer.
"The crowd were fantastic with everybody."
The Ryder Cup captain also admitted that, now the prospect of leading the team has sunk in, he now aims to be meticulous in his preparation for the tournament. "It's the greatest honour any European member can have," he said.
"Once all of the elation of being appointed captain had gone, the word 'responsible' came to my mind.
"It is a huge responsibility I've been given here and one I will take extremely seriously. As I said to the committee when I was voted on, 'no stone will be left unturned to try and win the Ryder Cup back'."
His predecessor, Nick Faldo, received criticism for his part in Europe's first Ryder Cup defeat for nine years but Montgomerie believes it was the performance of USA captain Paul Azinger which was decisive in determining the outcome of the contest.
"There was a lot of media exposure put on the European team but at the same time you forget the Americans were out to win. A lot of credit goes to Paul Azinger and the way he made the American team play.
"They played like the Europeans did in the early 1990s. He had great management staff in Raymond Floyd and Dave Stockton - two competitive men - and he didn't put a foot wrong in anything.
"You have to hand it to America, we were beaten well by a team who played better, especially on the Sunday. He deserved his victory"
The Scot is currently taking part in his 500th career tournament at the Open de Andalucia in Spain and told Golf Night the role of Ryder Cup captain has actually taken the pressure of his own performances this season.
"I've been looking for ways to relax on a golf course for the last 20 years and I think I've just found it. By being Ryder Cup captain I don't have to prove anything to anybody.
"You always want to prove to the captain of the day how well you are playing but I don't have that pressure right now.
"I'm going out to enjoy myself and I've done ok this season, finishing 13th in Dubai and 20th in a couple of others - it's been much better than it was last year.
"I was 180 odd over par last year - I'm already 30 under par this year - so it's made a big difference already."
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