GOLF/Dunhill Links Championships: Colin Montgomerie yesterday applied for the job of captain of the 2006 Ryder Cup team - by the simple expedient of not applying for it.
Speaking after a second-round 67 over the Old Course had given him a share of seventh place in the Dunhill Links Championship, he said: "The Ryder Cup captaincy is going to be decided in December as far as I know, but I will not be putting my name forward."
The Scot, well aware that the likes of Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam and Sandy Lyle have all expressed an interest in doing the job, nevertheless refuses to get involved.
"I believe that the Ryder Cup captain should be selected and if the appropriate authorities come to me and offer me the job, well, then I'll have to make a decision. But I don't believe it is a job that you should be able to apply for. That way there are a number of candidates and there is a winner and there are losers, and I don't think, in a matter like this, there should be losers."
In the past he has made his position clear. "I'm a white-smoke man. The committee should consider who is the right man for the job and then just announce him."
But by saying, as he did yesterday, that he would consider any offer made by that committee he has, in effect, put himself forward. That will further complicate a process that is already confused. Bernhard Langer, successful at Oakland Hills three weeks ago, has said he would consider a second term, there are the other known candidates and there are also those who say Montgomerie would serve Europe better by being a player.
But the Scot may well believe that it would be impossible to beat holing the winning putt in Europe's best-ever display, and that if he is to go out at the top, in Ryder Cup terms, the time to do that is now.
Montgomerie is in a good position to make an impact over the weekend - and he needs to.
"The next two rounds are very important for me," he said. "I want to get into the majors next year and that means getting back into the top 50 in the world rankings."
The Scot is currently 66th, but a win this week would comfortably take care of business.
David Howell, after a good Ryder Cup, has had 65s at Kingsbarns and, yesterday, St Andrews, and leads by one from his team-mate Luke Donald, who has played the same courses but took 66 at Kingsbarns. Howell, with his partner Samuel L Jackson, also leads the Pro-Am section at 20-under, which means that the film star has improved on his professional six times.
"It's fantastic," said Howell, "that even with my scoring Sam has managed to come in so often."
Jackson is also a fan. "I've been paired with a golfer this week who is just incredible," said Jackson, "it's awe-inspiring to watch."
Having started at the 10th, Howell's best moment came at the 18th, which he eagled. Having taken a two-iron off the tee in order to have a full shot in, he hit a sand-wedge second from 105 yards and "it went straight in, slam dunk".
Howell believes that the magnitude of the Ryder Cup success has "got me walking half an inch taller", but he also needs to get into the top 50 for major championship purposes. As he is currently 51st that should not be a problem, even if he fails to win on Sunday.
Donald has soared up the rankings this year, from 130th to 30th, having won the Scandinavian Masters and the European Masters. He only played in those events in order to qualify for the Ryder Cup team but, as he says, "I couldn't have scripted it any better."
He returns to the US Tour next week in an attempt to improve his moneylist ranking to qualify for the Tour Championship.
Ireland's Graeme McDowell failed to improve on his 10-under-par total from the first day, recording a frustrating 72 at Carnoustie, but is still well in the hunt. Paul McGinley had an excellent 67 at St Andrews to move to five-under, with Darren Clarke shooting 69 and Padraig Harrington a disappointing 74.
