The full Monty at the Ryder Cup

Not that it is a complete surprise, but Colin Montgomerie has now been officially named as the European Ryder Cup Captain. The announcement came on Wednesday in Dubai, Monty looking just a little like the proverbial ‘cat that got the cream’, said “I promise that I will do everything I can to claim the Ryder Cup back in Wales in 2010 “. Monty was determined in his assertions that the Ryder Cup would be in Europe’s hands at the end of the tournament.

Thomas Bjorn, who is the Chairman of the Tournament Committee spoke in glowing terms of the newly appointed Captain, saying “When someone said we need the best man for the job, it came straight away that the best man for the job in Wales would be Colin Montgomerie”

Certainly everyone appears to be happy with the appointment of the new Captain. However there is still a slightly bad smell left hanging in the air from the Betfair incident. The whole Betfair episode which centres on someone leaking insider information to the press about the proposed appointment of Monty which resulted in a flurry of bets for Monty to be named as the next Captain, it has been heavily denied that there was any wrong doing. However it has been investigated by the Tournament Committee and the European Tour Chief Executive, George O’Grady said “Any rumour that tarnishes golf’s reputation concerns everybody”. There has been no one named as the source of the leak and it is likely now that the whole incident will be forgotten about now that the official announcement has been made.

Jose Maria Olazabal, the man who had been previously expected to take the Captains position is now likely to be an Assistant Captain, Monty stating “It’s obvious that Jose will be part of my team in Celtic Manor. I have great respect for him”. There is heavy speculation that Jose Maria Olazabal will be the 2012 Captain.