I could be Ryder Cup backroom assistant, says Colin Montgomerie

Jul 13 2008 By Euan Mclean

COLIN MONTGOMERIE insists he'd be happy to help Europe's Ryder Cup bid as a backroom assistant if he doesn't qualify for the 12-man team.

Monty, who has become a talisman for the European side, is determined to play his way into Nick Faldo's line-up for Valhalla, Kentucky, in September.

But if he falls short and doesn't get one of the captain's two wild card picks he'd love the chance to join up as one of Faldo's assistants.

Speaking at a kids' coaching seminar with sponsors Aberdeen Asset Management, Monty said: "My job is always to help the European cause.

"My personal record in the Ryder Cup means bugger all and always has.

"Some say if I play this year and get a point and a half I'd beat Faldo's record as top scorer but that means absolutely nothing to me.

" I would be gaining a point and a half for Europe, not Montgomerie.

"I have only ever tried to help Europe so if I don't make the team and that call comes to be an assistant I would love to aid the team's cause.

"I hope I could offer something with my experience. If one of the rookies comes up for a chat or whatever then that's why I would be there.

"But I'd like to think I will still be there in a playing capacity. It's a case of timing your run because Faldo has said he's watching from now on so there are worse times to hit form.

"With all respect, to win in India and wherever we have been in January and February is great but this is the time to really start performing.

"It is getting tougher all the time to qualify and it should be. I'm 45 now and if I make the team I'll be the oldest member. Again.

"So it's definitely getting harder - I'm competing against 25-year-olds.

"But the Ryder Cup is a lot about experience and how you can handle yourself come Friday morning.

"Suddenly the way you played in practice goes out the window and it's a question of can you stand up and hit the ball under pressure or not."