Ryder Cup Rumblings

Filed in archive Golf News on October 12, 2007

Courtesy: getty images

Oh, oh. Battle lines are clearly drawn in the run-up to next year's Ryder Cup at Valhalla. At least, as far as the European squad is concerned.

Euro captain, Nick Faldo, who also recently captained the Great Britain and Ireland team at the Seve Cup has begun what appears to be a war of words with Colin Montgomerie.

Recently, former Euro Ryder Cup captain, Sam Torrance, slammed Faldo for appointing Paul McGinley as a vice-captain months in advance of the event. McGinley turned down the offer.

Then Monty chimed in, saying he agreed with Torrance. The Ryder Cup veteran continued by saying he would love to help the team in any capacity, including that of a playing vice-captain. But he then explained how he would do it, if he were captain, hinting strongly at his own true ambitions.

Well, the latest "Salvo from Faldo" is a slap in Monty's face. Faldo claims Monty was a no-show at three team meetings during the Seve Cup and implied strongly that the Scot had to be coddled emotionally while failing to produce on the course.

This is a power struggle, pure and simple. I don't think Nick intends to lose it. And I don't expect Monty to take it. I fully expect the Scot to tell Nick to stuff the Ryder Cup and then make a political push for the captaincy in 2010.

A personal note - I am currently in the U.K., to visit a dying cousin - not a happy occasion. However, I hope to also visit a local course north of Guildford where I'm staying. Apparently, it's one of the oldest and finest designs in the country. Also, I'm not far from Wentworth, scene of this week's World Matchplay Championships. No chance of getting there but the TV coverage here in the U.K. is excellent!