ROOKIE ROB’S NOT MAN FOR FULL MONTY
RYDER CUP legend Colin Montgomerie believes it’ll be difficult to hand Robert MacIntyre a wildcard pick.
The Scot enjoyed another stunning Major appearance when he secured an eighth-placed finish at The Open at St George’s last weekend.
The 24-year-old is five spots shy of qualifying from the ‘Europe’ points table but now only two places away from the ‘World’ points standing.
The European skipper Padraig Harrignton has three wildcards at his disposal while US leader Steve Stricker boasts six.
And Monty said: “Robert is right on the cusp now for selection and that ‘never say die, go for it’ attitude that we saw last Sunday would be brilliant in a Ryder Cup format.
“The difficult decision for Padraig if Robert ends qualifying just outside the automatic picks is whether you pick a rookie when the Ryder Cup is in America,
“It’s going to be loud and that’s nothing against the American crowd, and it’s just they are a little louder than we are. That’s great for the Ryder Cup and we’ve missed the crowds.
“Padraig and his vicecaptains will have to get together and talk to Robert and ask is he able to handle that particular, different type of pressure, and right now he seems able to.
“Put is this way. If the Ryder Cup was in Europe, you’d have him in the team tomorrow but given it is in America, it brings a different dynamic to it.
“I’ve always said I was never going to pick a rookie. I did but mainly because it was at home but it’s very difficult to pick a rookie when it’s away from home as you are just not sure as it’s almost too much of a risk.
“Youneedtopicksomeone who is not frightened or scared. You can say what you like about a player’s stats but you’ve got to be able to handle America.
“It’ll be more difficult this year with European fans unable to fly over.
“They will all come down from Green Bay and they’re all ‘Cheese Heads’ and quite loud, so it’s going to be very difficult, very difficult as America wants back the Ryder Cup.”
MacIntyre was the only Scot to play in the Open, the lowest-ever number.
And Monty said: “It was very disconcerting that there was just one Scot.
“We had 156 players and there’s one Scot from the Home of Golf in the field.
“It’s very disconcerting and I don’t know why it should be that way but we have got to find a way to boost the numbers.”
Monty is among seven Scots in the Sunningdale field for the Seniors Open and will play the opening two rounds alongside Open Champion, Paul Lawrie and 2018 winner Miguel Angel Jimenez.