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Monty leaves out Rose and Casey for Ryder Cup

Molinari, Harrington and Donald get captain's nod

Posted: 31 August 2010
by Bob Warters

Montgomerie - tough decisions

Edoardo (left) and Francesco Molinari will play together in the Ryder Cup

Stature, versatility and raw form were the hallmarks on which Colin Montgomerie repectively selected Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald and Edoardo Molinari as his captain's picks for the European Ryder Cup team to face the US holders at The Celtic Manor from October 1-3.

Many expected Monty to include world No.9 Paul Casey and double US Tour winner Justin Rose among his wild cards but when the Italian Molinari birdied the closing three holes to win the Johnnie Walker title at Gleneagles it threw a spanner into the works.

Nominating three-time major champion Harrington and the World No.10 Donald, he said: "I feel very sorry for Casey and Rose but my hands were tied in many ways and I had no option to leave out world class players.

"But who could leave out a player of Harrington's stature? No US player wants to play against Padraig. And who could leave out a player like Luke, who is so versatile and can play in foursomes and fourball?" said Monty.

"And how could I leave out Edoardo after the way he finished today?"

There was nothing personal in his choices, he said just cold facts.

"I have looked at the statistics and the players in 7th, 8th and 9th position who have qualified automatically in the past have been responsible for 40 per-cent of the points scored in Ryder Cups. Captains' picks have been responsible for 70 per-cent of the points."

Donald immediately responded to his selection by racing up the 4th round leaderboard in the Barclays Championship on the PGA Tour. He shot 28 over the first nine including birdies at his first six holes to challenge the leaders, who included Scot Martin Laird and American Dustin Johnson.

Another key to Molinari's selection was the fact that his brother Francesco is already on the European team and together they won the World Cup for Italy earlier in the year.

The rest of the European team is Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Ross Fisher, Ian Poulter, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Peter Hanson.

Added Monty: "I will hope to get the players together, let them know what I expect and so they are comfortable with what I am trying to do, in terms of pairings. To call some of them rookies is unfair, they are world class athletes.

"I'm very confident that with this team we can win back the Cup. After all we only need half a point more than the Americans."

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Discuss this story

Barry Donovan 2

Didnt think he would leave Casey out to be honest but it was never going to be an easy decision

Posted: 29/08/2010 at 20:20

Just Pured

Yeah, like his choices but Casey should have got the nod over Donald. The course will likely be cold and damp, so length will be an advantage. His smarmyness prolly did it alas.

Posted: 29/08/2010 at 21:42

Damon (16.0)

Thought the other way JP. Thought Rose should have went instead of Harrington

Posted: 29/08/2010 at 21:45

Jahmoo 15.6 - (16)

I think he chose the right players for the now, as mention, Donald will need to shine, otherwise the papers will be all over Monty for that choice, leaving Casey out. Risky

Posted: 29/08/2010 at 21:47

eagle

Its a team game and some people arn't "team players' Monty chose the right guys

Posted: 29/08/2010 at 22:01

Willie-Bear

Think you guys that have negatives to say about Donald should look at his record....?

Posted: 29/08/2010 at 22:06

Jahmoo 15.6 - (16)

Think they are not Negatives towards Donald, think some wanted Casey in more. Donald did what he had to do, which is more than Casey, coming over for a few games showed his intent towards the Ryder Cup, he deserved it more than any of the 3 Captains Pick in my view

Posted: 29/08/2010 at 23:21

Mary

Hope the Harrington pick works out - Monty obviously knows the guy well, so I bow to his superior knowledge. I would have gone for Casey instead.

Posted: 30/08/2010 at 06:50

Barry Donovan 2

How did the wild card Molinari not qualify automatically? has he been on the tour all year?

Posted: 30/08/2010 at 07:51

McStumpy

Barry - RC qualification started towards the end of last season, Eduardo only joined the full tour in January after a 4 win season on the Challenge Tour (+ a World Cup win with his brother). He was therefore playing catch up, and his two wins weren't enough.

Casey's temperament on the big occasion still worries me, although undoubtedly he would have been an asset in 4balls. It's Rose who perhaps should feel most aggrieved, given his great season and fine showing at Valhalla 2 years ago.

But I'm happy with the picks. Harrington is a gamble, but his form is not as poor as some have suggested - I think his poor showing in the majors has contributed to the perception. That said, he is obviously not playing as well as Rose or even Casey.

Donald was a huge miss at Valhalla, his 4somes and 4balls record is excellent, and as mentioned he did make an effort to qualify by rights with a short swing in Europe (which did see him win, place 2nd, and place 3rd).

Posted: 30/08/2010 at 08:22

Upanddown (10.3)

Mary said "Hope the Harrington pick works out - Monty obviously knows the guy well, so I bow to his superior knowledge. I would have gone for Casey instead"
Read more: http://www.golfmagic.com/forum/forummessages/mps/dt/1/UTN/37290/V/8/SP/#I totally agree.

Posted: 30/08/2010 at 08:50

Jahmoo 15.6 - (16)

Mary wrote (see)

I would have gone for Casey instead.

We know your intentions Mary, I think Casey will miss you at Celtic Manor, Wolf Whistling, Screaming his name

Posted: 30/08/2010 at 08:52

Mary

Jahmoo 16.2 wrote (see)

Mary wrote (see)
I would have gone for Casey instead.

We know your intentions Mary, I think Casey will miss you at Celtic Manor, Wolf Whistling, Screaming his name

Posted: 30/08/2010 at 11:52

NickdeBug

Harrington - missed cut at the last two majors and hasn't scored a point in the Ryder Cup since 2004.

Rose - has won 75% of the matches that he has played (2008) and his absence may deny the European team of an excellent partnership with Poulter

Casey - world number 8, consistent performer this season and proven matchplayer (Wentworth + 2x runner up in Arizona)

Is the purpose of the Ryder Cup to pitch the best of the Europeans against the best of the US, or is it merely to protect the European Tour and try and give some fairly humdrum events some sort of standing?

Luckily European golf has such strength in depth at present that I don't think that this will matter, but it is interesting that Luke Donald has been very critical of the selection process despite receiving one of the three wildcards.

Posted: 30/08/2010 at 15:56

Ray Rapp

It was a tough choice to have to make. Personally, I think Harrington is very lucky to have got the nod over Casey and Rose because on form I'm not sure he deserves it. I like Luke Donald and although not blessed with the lenght of the aforementioned he is very steady, a good Ryder Cup record and a good foursomes partner for sure.

The bottom line is they all had a chance of securing an automtic slot and not rely on a Captain's pick. That said, the competition was incredibly tough. For instance, who would have thought that Rose would win twice on the USPGA tour and not get an automatic selection - unbelievable!

Monty will no doubt be judged on the result of the Ryder Cup - ahh, the benefit of hindsight. I remember Woosie getting some stick for his picks but not much said when Europe won. Likewise, Faldo got some stick for picking Poulter but he was probably the best player on the European side, although we still lost.

Finally, I don't like the fact that the USA team have four picks and we have three, last time it was only two. The rules should be the same for both sides. I would also like to see a return of 10 qualifiers and two Captain's picks. Roll on Celtic Manor...

Posted: 30/08/2010 at 19:17

Barry Donovan 2

it should defo be the same for both sides.

why isnt it?

Posted: 30/08/2010 at 21:27

Ray Rapp

Because the yanks will do anything to ensure they win...and we British are too polite to tell them so.

Posted: 30/08/2010 at 23:00

Tim Bennett

Was surprised to Harrington over Casey. Casey's record in the RC and in Matchplay is far superior and Harrington hasn't been doing well on the big occasions.

Fail to see how Harrington has deserved his spot in the last 2 seasons. Specially if he gets picked over the likes of Casey and Rose.

Posted: 31/08/2010 at 06:48