Colin Montgomerie has been confirmed as European captain for next year's Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.
Eight-time player to lead Europe at Celtic Manor
Colin Montgomerie has been confirmed as European captain for next year's Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.
The 45-year-old will succeed Nick Faldo as Europe bid to win back the trophy following the United States' victory in Valhalla in September.
The Scot was given the nod ahead of Jose Maria Olazabal after accepting that he would not be in the running for a place on the team, although he has vowed to play at Medinah in 2012.
Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam had also been in the running for the job but appeared to drop out of contention earlier this month.
And with Montgomerie still a regular player on the European Tour and in contact with the current crop of players, it became a formality that he would be given the nod by the tournament committee.
Responsibility
"This is obviously one of the most proud moments I can think of - proud and honoured to be selected by the committee to be named 2010 captain," he said.
"It's a huge responsibility, having lost the last Ryder Cup in Valhalla it is important that we do everything that we can - and I promise you I'll be doing everything I can - to claim back the Ryder Cup in Wales in 2010.
"I've always had respect for the players out here and for what they've been saying over the last two weeks.
"I've been listening, and taking heed of what they've been saying, and it just seems that the time is right for me to take the helm, so I can tell you right now that when qualification gets under way all the points that I earn for the Ryder Cup will be nullified.
"I am the captain, and I am proud and honoured right now.
"I don't believe that I cannot compete in 2012. And that is now my aim, but we are concentrating today on 2010 and that's where we are."
Respect
Olazabal is now expected to try to play his way onto the team, but whether or not he does, Montgomerie insisted he will be involved again two years after serving as assistant to Faldo.
"It's obvious that Jose Maria will be part of my team at Celtic Manor," the Scot added.
"We have a great understanding and I have had a respect for him since we first came together in the British Amateur final in 1984 and it's amazing how we have gone forward since that.
"You'll know in due course who will join the backroom staff but it's very important that we get those players and members of the tour to claim the Ryder Cup in 2010."
Thomas Bjorn, chairman of the Ryder Cup tournament committee which selected Montgomerie, said the decision to appoint him was unanimous among the 15-strong panel.
"It became very obvious in the discussions in Abu Dhabi that we wanted the right man for 2010 and as that meeting progressed Colin's name came more and more into the frame," said the Dane.
"At one stage we thought about naming two captains (one also for 2012) but we felt that we should concentrate on one captain at a time.
"That is what we should be doing and I can say that the committee was unanimous in thinking that Colin was the right man to win the Ryder Cup and take those men into battle."
Montgomerie has scored 23.5 points in eight Ryder Cup appearances - 1.5 points behind record-holder Faldo - and holed the winning putt in Europe's record victory over the Americans in 2004.
"My message to my players is very easy, we go and claim back the Ryder Cup," he added.
