Two of Scotland’s leading golfing champions have endorsed the case of an Irishman to be Ryder Cup captain when the event comes to Gleneagles in 2014.
Colin Montgomerie and Paul Lawrie at Gleneagles for this week’s Johnnie Walker Championship believe Paul McGinley has a strong chance to lead Europe when the Ryder Cup visits Perthshire in just over three years.
McGinley has been chosen to lead the Great Britain and Ireland team in the Vivendi Seve Trophy for the second time, and was a vice-captain for Monty at Celtic Manor last year, usually a role that results in captaincy down the line.
Monty, who will play with next year’s Europe captain Jose Maria Olazabal in this week’s event said: “I think it strengthens his case to be captain here there’s no question. He was a great captain in the Vivendi and he may be on Jose Maria’s team in a year’s time.
“That was the way I set it up when I was captain Paul and Thomas Bjorn as captains as they were going to help me at Celtic Manor. I think Thomas wants to play rather than captain. Darren Clarke wants to play.
“There’s a few candidates that are coming available to Europe now. We’re looking at the Clarke, Westwood, Harrington era.”
Lawrie believes the choice of McGinley for the Vivendi Seve Trophy in three weeks puts the Irishman in pole position.
The former Open champion said: “It seems like they are putting Paul strongly in position to be the captain, which I think is a good move. He proved last time that he was a good captain. Everyone had positive things to say about him.
“I think he’s captain material. He’s a good lad and has played quite a few Ryder Cups himself. He knows what to do and what not to do.”
Meanwhile Monty, as tournament chairman of the Johnnie Walker, believes the PGA Centenary Course is ready to hold the Ryder Cup now, even if there’s only the growing expectation this year as qualification for 2012 begins next week.
Monty continued: “This golf course has never looked better, and there’s that Ryder Cup feeling about the place now. The changes have been well received, especially to the seventh green. There’s more definition on 12 and 14, and the greens are firmer, as we have been asking for.
“I’d agree the 18th is not one of the great strengths of the course, but as a reachable par five things can happen on there.
“Look at Edoardo Molinari last year and the superb finish: could he make a four to win and get into the Ryder Cup team? There was drama enough there.
“I think last year only three out of 12 singles went down the last at Celtic Manor, so it can be that the 18th isn’t used a lot. I’m very happy with the course as it is.”
Monty is pleased to be playing with Olazabal, but will only give advice if the Spaniard asks.
“We’ll have a chat no doubt, but he is his own man, a passionate man, and he will do it his way, which is only right. He’s got as much experience as I have of Ryder Cups but if there’s something he wants from me, then by all means.”
As for any role in 2014, Monty will not have one unless his services are requested.
“I won’t be putting my name forward,” he said. “If the tour and the committee asked me to do it again, of course I would. I’m available I don’t think I’ll be playing that week! But I need to be asked.”
Meanwhile, failure to make the Open for the first time since 1990 and non-qualification for the WGC Bridgestone and the PGA Championship mean Monty has had the longest mid-season spell of inactivity in his long career.
He explained: “I have not played since the Scottish Open. It’s the longest gap I’ve had in the middle of a season, but I’ve been keeping an eye on things.
I’ve been practising quite hard, my putting is much better than it was and I know that, throughout my career, I have never won not putting well. So if I can putt well and put the ball in play, I have a chance to contend, not just compete.”