ABU DHABI // Leading members of the European Tour will meet in Abu Dhabi this evening with a view to nominating the Ryder Cup captain for the next match against the United States at Celtic Manor, Cardiff, in the autumn of next year following the loss of the trophy in Valhalla, Kentucky last year.
"It's important that we get back the Ryder Cup after holding it for so long until last year," said Colin Montgomerie, 45, who was a key figure in Europe's prolonged spell of matchplay dominance over the Americans but was not selected last time. "We lost heavily and we have to turn this around. It is a very important Ryder Cup in Wales." said the Scot. "We need leadership and to have respect in that leader."
The ideal man to restore Europe's pride is, in Montgomerie's view, Sandy Lyle. "If I had the casting vote I would go for Lyle," he said. "The others in the big five of major winners [Severiano Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam and Faldo] all got it so it would be unfortunate if he missed out. "But Scotland 2014 at Gleneagles has got my name pencilled in. That's where I live and that seems to be my time."
wjohnson@thenational.ae