The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Bjorn the obvious choice, says Monty
Veteran Scot Montgomerie backs Dane to be success as he ‘wears his heart on his sleeve’
Colin Montgomerie has backed Thomas Bjorn to be a success as Europe’s Ryder Cup captain, saying the Dane was “the obvious choice”.
Bjorn was yesterday confirmed as skipper for Europe’s bid to win back the trophy from the United States in France in 2018.
The 45-year-old was Montgomerie’s vice-captain when Europe regained the Cup in at Celtic Manor in 2010, and the Scot felt Bjorn excelled in the role.
“Thomas was the obvious choice, and the right choice, to be captain in 2018,” Montgomerie told Sky Sports News.
“I saw first hand what he was like as a vice-captain in 2010, and he was exceptional. I used him possibly more than any other vice-captain at Celtic Manor.
“He wears his heart on his sleeve and I think that’s important for the role. I wouldn’t be worried about his combustible and fiery nature, that is good in a way. I think you need that to beat the might of the Americans.
“We need to win the Ryder Cup back in France, and I feel we’ve got the best captain to do that.”
US Masters champion Danny Willett was part of the European team beaten 17-11 at Hazeltine in October.
He told BBC Radio 5 live: “Thomas is a well-respected man in our game and on the European Tour. From what I saw from him as vice-captain, he will make a fantastic captain.”
Bjorn’s three Ryder Cup appearances as a player all resulted in victories while he has been a vice-captain four times, including to Darren Clarke in Minnesota two months ago.
The Dane is the second captain after Clarke to be chosen using Ryder Cup Europe’s new selection process – the third method used to pick the Ryder Cup captain since players from Continental Europe joined the fold for the 1979 contest, under the captaincy of John Jacobs, at The Greenbrier in West Virginia.
From then until 1997, when the late Ballesteros led Europe in his homeland at Valderrama, the European Captain was chosen by the Ryder Cup Committee, who selected Jacobs again in 1981, Tony Jacklin in 1983, 1985, 1987 and 1989, and Bernard Gallacher in 1991, 1993 and 1995.
However, in 1999, Mark James was the first European captain to be nominated by the European Tour’s Tournament Committee and ratified by the Ryder Cup Board, a process which first selected Scot Sam Torrance in 2002.
From what I saw from him as vicecaptain, he willmakea fantastic captain. DANNY WILLETT