RYDER CUP: COLIN MONTGOMERIE has been given a Ryder Cup boost by the man who matters most - European captain Nick Faldo.

Montgomerie has not had a top-10 finish in strokeplay competition since January, did not qualify for the Masters last month and is now at his lowest position in the world - 90th - for nearly 18 years.

But on the eve of the PGA Championship at Wentworth, Faldo, while not giving much away on other matters, did say: "I believe Monty will turn it around.

"I certainly haven't counted that out. He has a great way of producing the goods when we really need it and in theory a player of his ability has enough time to make it happen."

A month away from his 45th birthday, Montgomerie is not among the top 30 players in the cup standings who traditionally are measured up for their uniforms this week.

But such is the huge money on offer in the European Tour's flagship event - €750,000 to the winner - that should he win on Sunday the eight-time European number one could jump as high as sixth on the points table.

Given his recent form and the fact the field includes six of the world's top 20 in Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, that victory is obviously a tall order.

Montgomerie himself feels he needs to win at least twice before qualifying finishes at the end of August.

Faldo is not putting that as a basic minimum for the Scot either to make it into the team automatically or to come into the reckoning for a wild card.

"That would probably help," Faldo commented, stating the obvious and going no further.

Montgomerie may think he has to play himself into the side judging by Faldo's comments last October.

After the Seve Trophy at the Heritage, Faldo described his former partner's absence from team meetings as "disappointing", and added: "Monty's a tough one. He was the only one whose emotions I had to deal with. He had to be teased out on to the 18th green to support his team."

There are other issues for Faldo to resolve too, of course.

A year ago he named Jose Maria Olazabal and Paul McGinley as his assistants, but in the week of the Seve Trophy, McGinley, having failed to make that Britain and Ireland side, resigned and said he wanted to focus on trying to find his game again.

Eight months on Faldo was asked when he might be naming a replacement, but replied: "I haven't got anything to tell you yet. It will definitely be before the Ryder Cup - just in case they miss the flight!"

On how many vice-captains there might be, he said: "Speculate from zero to six. We could go around the houses on this. I'm not here to go around the houses.

"Guys and girls, why do you want to speculate? I don't know who it's going to be. I will announce it later. Plenty of time - don't panic."

Naturally, Faldo was delighted to see Sergio Garcia win the Players Championship in America two weeks ago and Darren Clarke achieve his first win since his wife, Heather, died of breast cancer just before the last match.

"It was great, probably more so for what Darren has been through off the course," he added.

"What he showed at The K Club was character beyond belief."

From his time spent commentating for American television Faldo has noticed that their players - thrashed in the last two matches, of course - are placing more emphasis on the Ryder Cup this time.

"I think they are going to be coming at us at full guns and I know that's the way I'm thinking as well."

Opposite number Paul Azinger has already stirred up his old rivalry with the man who pipped him to the 1987 British Open, but while dismissing that and insisting he gets on well with him, Faldo did state: "Zinger's drumming it up a bit more."