Monty shuts door on returning as Ryder Cup skipper, slams slow golfers

Colin Montgomerie says he will never captain Ryder Cup Europe again.

17 May 2023

Monty shuts door on returning as Ryder Cup skipper, slams slow golfers

Colin Montgomerie has slammed the door shut on captaining Ryder Cup Europe again as he revealed his idea for golf's perennial slow play problem.

Current European skipper Luke Donald now has a bit more clarity over what his side will look like when his team heads to Rome in September.

Speaking before the PGA Championship at Oak Hill, Donald reflected on the loss of former Ryder Cup Europe stalwarts who resigned their DP World Tour memberships after their fines and suspensions were upheld by a sports arbitration panel.

"It's a shame," Donald said, adding:

"A lot of these guys have built their legacy around DP World Tour members and their participation and everything with the Ryder Cup. But ultimately that was their decision, and unfortunately they're off the table now for selection purposes for myself."

Donald also stated that he doesn't have a captains' agreement with Zach Johnson over the prospect of LIV Golf players in their sides.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by . (@golfmagic)

As for Montgomerie, it's not unreasonable to suggest that he could be offered the role again after Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Graeme McDowell were ruled out.

But Monty has told Forbes he would never step back into the lion's den.

"I was told by Sam Torrance, Bernhard Langer and Ian Woosnam, three winning captains, 'if you've won it, get out.' Why go back into the lion's den when it's a fifty-fifty coin toss to be honest. Mine was within half a point. I was fortunate and lucky enough to be selected as a captain and very fortunate to win and leave happily. If anyone came to me and asked if I wanted to captain the team next year, I'd say 'I'm sorry, I've been there, done that.'" - Colin Montgomerie

As for golf's slow play problem, Monty is in agreement with Jack Nicklaus that something now needs to be done.

Fining players is not going to work, according to the 59-year-old Scot.

He told the publication:

"We need a deterrent and a deterrent is not money because these guys are earning what they are right now so what we have to do is a shot penalty and we have to start at the top. If one of the top players is given a shot penalty for slow play, my God that’ll trigger things.

"A shot penalty has to be the order of the day and if it happens again it doubles up—so it's two shots, then four shots, then eight shots. Slow play is a real bugbear of mine. It does my blooming head in, it really does because I'm quite quick and you can only go as quick as the slowest player. It is inconsiderate, unjust and a shot penalty is the only way to go."