The R&A is going to announce its selection for the 2010 European Team Ryder Cup captain on Wednesday morning, and you just know it’s going to be Colin Montgomerie. And that’s a shame. Not because I don’t want Montgomerie to be the team’s captain, but it’s two years early. I’d love for him to be the team captain in 2012 when the Ryder Cup is held at Medinah Country Club outside Chicago. Monty has had a largely contentious relationship with U.S. fans, many of whom love to prod and needle the sometimes cantankerous Scot into icy stares and torment him for his slight resemblance to Robin Williams’ cross-dressing character Mrs. Doubtfire. Though he’s come tantalizingly close, particularly in majors, the eight-time Order of Merit champion on the European Tour has never won a pro tournament on American soil. What better way to break the ice, or a crowing failure in the U.S. in the event Monty treasures the most _ in part because of his overwhelming success against American opponents as a player. Either way, it’s great theater. Better than whatever will play out in Wales in less than two years. Jose Maria Olazabal is the other primary option, though Ian Woosnam and Sandy Lyle are also considered candidates. I’d take any of those this year so Monty would have a chance to leave the U.S. a hero. Monty has indicated he’d like to be the captain in 2014 in his native Scotland. That would be fun for him, not for us.
One small piece of memorabilia that still takes up space on my desk is one of the red and white ``Be Nice to Monty’’ buttons Golf Digest produced and handed out at the U.S. Open several years ago. I find Monty funny even when he’s not trying to be, and he’s hilarious when he’s trying to be. He certainly adds flare to the game. I wouldn’t put it past Monty to use a captain’s pick on himself. Now that would be a gas. He felt shunned when he was bypassed for a captain’s pick last year European Team captain Nick Faldo, you know.
