Royal role suits Montgomerie

Golf: Colin Montgomerie is eager to get the 2010 Ryder Cup year off to a positive start as he prepares to lead a European team…

Golf:Colin Montgomerie is eager to get the 2010 Ryder Cup year off to a positive start as he prepares to lead a European team looking to reclaim the Royal Trophy from Asia in Thailand this week.

The Scot is standing in for Seve Ballesteros for the tournament at Amata Spring Country Club in Chonburi, east of Bangkok, with the Spaniard having ruled himself out due to lingering health concerns.

As well as captaining the side, Montgomerie has also handed himself a playing role — a first in the competition’s history — as he looks to cast an eye over possible candidates for his Europe team to face America at Celtic Manor in October.

And the eight-time Order of Merit winner is confident combining the two roles will enable him to observe potential Ryder Cup picks first hand.

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“When I heard that the games were just one game per day then it is possible (to play) but when you have two matches a day and 36 holes a day it becomes impossible to try and fit in the scheduling,” said Montgomerie.

“With one match a day it is possible to captain and play in the team and it means I am at very close quarters to watch my team players and see what will happen not just here but of course later in the year.”

Aside from Montgomerie, the European side includes Swedes Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson, Alexander Noren and Peter Hanson, England’s Simon Dyson, Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen and Spain’s Pablo Martin.

While it is far from the side that is likely to be seen in Wales, Montgomerie is nevertheless adamant it will provide both himself and the players with good preparation for the coming year.

“It is a very important year for European golf in 2010 culminating in the Ryder Cup in October,” he added. “We have a great wealth of talent in Europe, more so than I have ever witnessed in my career.

“This (the Royal Trophy) is a very good preparation for us in many ways to see how our top players are playing early on in the year while it gives me a great opportunity to witness how they are preparing for (the Ryder Cup) at the end of the year.

“We have seven possibilities here this week to show off their skills and we look forward trying to regain the Royal Trophy against a very strong Asian team.”

The tournament gets under way on Friday and will feature foursomes, fourballs and singles over the course of three days.