Monty still holds Ryder hope

Monty: Relying on wildcard

Hopefully I'm past the stage of justifying my Ryder Cup potential or otherwise. Everybody knows, and I'm sure I speak for the captain as well, my love of the Ryder Cup.

Colin Montgomerie
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Colin Montgomerie insists he has not given up hope of making it on to Nick Faldo's Ryder Cup team, but claims he will redouble his efforts to qualify for the 2010 match if he were to miss out.

The Scot has featured in the last eight contests for Europe but, after a distinctly indifferent season by his standards, is now relying on a wildcard pick from Faldo to maintain that record.

With the likes of Ian Poulter, Paul Casey and Darren Clarke also vying for a captain's pick, many observers feel Montgomerie will miss out on next month's showdown at Valhalla.

However, Monty is hoping his tremendous past record, (he is unbeaten in Ryder Cup singles competition), will count when Faldo reveals all on Sunday.

"Hopefully I'm past the stage of justifying my Ryder Cup potential or otherwise," he said on Sky Sports.

"Everybody knows, and I'm sure I speak for the captain as well, my love of the Ryder Cup and that's how I will be remembered if you like.

"The Ryder Cup has brought the best out of me. Everybody tells me, 'Why don't you just play the way you in the Ryder Cup?

"As Tom Lehman said in America, 'We'd be delighted if Monty is not playing'. I think that says a lot.

"To get selected I think I've got to show some form. I haven't become a bad player, I'm just sort of out of form and have been for the last month.

"But I feel very much more confident having had a week's holiday away from the game and after practising here last week."

Montgomerie opted to sit out last week's European Tour event in Holland leading some to speculate that he had all but given up on trying to impress Faldo.

The Scot has set the record straight, though, insisting he felt it was in his interests to stay in Britain and prepare for this week's Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles - the final qualifying event for the Ryder Cup.

"There is no resignation in any way, shape or form of that (Ryder Cup qualification)," he added. "I just felt I wanted to turn my game around and the best way to do that was to practice up here and prepare for this event the way that I have."

Asked whether he has been in contact with Faldo or had any notion of what he might need to do at Gleneagles to push his claims, he continued: "None at all, and I've no idea how he feels I need to perform. I will do the best I can, as I always do, and then I'll go home on Sunday and watch on television."

2010 target

If, as many expect, Monty is overlooked by Faldo on Sunday, the Scot is determined that it will not spell the end of his distinguished Ryder Cup career.

The 2010 match takes place at the Celtic Manor resort in Wales and a defiant Montgomerie insists he will fight tooth and nail to be part of Europe's playing staff for that showpiece.

Indeed, the 45-year-old ruled out acting as an assistant for Faldo at Valhalla next month, adding he would rather focus his energies on improving his game.

"(If don't qualify) I'd consider getting my game ready to make sure I do make it in 2010," he stated.

"Bernhard Langer did that when he was left out in '99, he was determined - and I know that because he told me immediately afterwards - that he made sure to make it for what would have been the 2001 team at the time, played 2002, and he made damn sure he was on the team next time - and that would be my goal."