GOLF:EVERY EUROPEAN star basing himself in the United States – and that includes Rory McIlroy again next season – runs the risk of not making the Ryder Cup.

That was the warning yesterday from Colin Montgomerie a week before the qualifying race starts in Switzerland.

Montgomerie found leaving out world number nine Paul Casey last year the hardest thing he had to do as captain – and he hopes his successor Jose Maria Olazabal does not face the same dilemma next August.

The pair play together in the first two rounds of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles today and tomorrow and Montgomerie said: “No doubt we’ll have a chat on the way round.”

Olazabal has opted for only two wild cards instead of Montgomerie’s three – and three did not prove enough to get either Casey or Justin Rose, twice a winner in the States during the qualifying period, into his side.

“I think it surprised us all that a world top-10 player didn’t make it and I do hope that Olazabal doesn’t have that same issue,” Montgomerie said. “I hope it’s more cut and dried for him than it was for me and that the two picks are obvious.”

However, Montgomerie adds: “If you base yourself in America you are taking a risk to make the Ryder Cup team, quite simple.”

Casey lost out to the uncapped Edoardo Molinari, choosing to play in the (non-counting) first leg of the FedEx Cup play-offs in New Jersey, whereas the Italian birdied the final three holes to win at Gleneagles.

Rose, Pádraig Harrington and Luke Donald were also in the States despite Montgomerie asking them all to fly to Scotland instead. “I feel that Olazabal will have a stronger representation of Ryder Cup players next year than I did,” he said. “It’s quite straightforward. If you don’t make the top 10 you might not make the team and you can’t rely on a pick.”

The first five of the team for Chicago next year will be based on their European Tour earnings and the next five from their world ranking points during the 12-month race.

Another of the USPGA Tour members hoping to make Olazabal’s side is leading Scot Martin Laird, currently ranked 25th in the world – but he will not start earning points until January.

That is because he did not want to commit to 13 European Tour events this season.

“That’s unfortunate for him and for Scottish golf,” added Montgomerie. “At the same time Molinari managed to make the team starting from the Challenge Tour. He proved to the captain – me – that he was capable of playing the Ryder Cup and it’s up to Martin Laird now to do what Edoardo Molinari did.

“Win three times, get as close as he possibly can to qualification and be one of those two picks of Olazabal’s if he doesn’t qualify. I wish him well, of course.

“It’s been 2006 since a Scot has represented the team and that’s too long.”

Montgomerie was that player himself and although he is currently down at 285th in the world the 48-year-old has not given up all hope of earning a ninth cap.

He is glad just to be back playing this week.

His last event was the Scottish Open at the start of last month and after briefly leading it early in the final round he fell back to 31st and so still has not had a top five finish for over three years.

Molinari is back to defend his title against a field that also includes his brother Francesco, leader after 54 holes last year, Dane Anders Hansen, third in the USPGA Championship, and Irish Open winner Simon Dyson.

A strong Irish challenge in Scotland includes Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane, Paul McGinley, Simon Thornton, Shane Lowry and Michael Hoey,