Another captaincy for Monty

Montgomerie (L) with Ballesteros at the 2005 Seve Trophy

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Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has accepted an invitation to also skipper the European team at the 2010 Royal Trophy against Asia.

The Scot was invited to take the role by Seve Ballesteros who had been hoping to do the job himself.

The Spaniard was a driving force behind the creation of the annual team match-play event and led Europe in the first two editions of the competition.

However, the five-time major winner was struck down with a brain tumour last October three months prior to his planned third consecutive captaincy.

As a result compatriot Jose Maria Olazabal replaced him as Asia beat their Europeans rivals for the first time.

Ballesteros has subsequently made encouraging progress in his recovery from the illness and had hoped to return as captain for January's event.

However, he feels he will not quite be ready to fulfil that commitment and has now asked Montgomerie to step in for him.

Certainty

"It is best for the players to have complete certainty as to who will lead them in this great match against Asia, and while my recovery has been very good, I am not certain that I will be ready to give our team the 110 percent effort it deserves," Ballesteros explained.

"The role of captain is complex, difficult and demanding and I sincerely thank Colin, my very good friend, for taking this major responsibility."

Montgomerie was delighted to accept the invitation and feels it will greatly benefit him ahead of next year's Ryder Cup.

"It will be an excellent opportunity for me to spend time with some key players who are likely to be with me at Celtic Manor in October for the Ryder Cup," the Scot said in a statement.

"I am excited about being European captain as well as representing our continent as a player."

The fourth edition of the Royal Trophy is to take place at the Amata Spring Country Club in Thailand from January 8-10.