Paul Gallagherbelieves the European Tour have made the right decision in selecting a man that lives and breathes for the Ryder Cup.

WHEN IT comes to the Ryder Cup Colin Montgomerie has seen it all. Since making his debut as a podgy, curly-haired 27-year-old in 1991, the 2010 European captain has now circled the journey with yesterday’s captaincy news. Enigmatic Monty. He’s often moody and temperamental, rarely at ease with the American public, aloof and self-centred yet charismatic but always entertaining throughout.

The burly Scot has played in eight consecutive Ryder Cups since his debut at Kiawah Island, dubbed the “War on the Shore” in reference to the Gulf War at the time. From there he went on to hole the winning putt at Oakland Hills in 2004, was undefeated in eight singles matches and made his final playing contribution at the K-Club in 2006, amassing 23.5 points from 36 matches to be the third leading European points scorer behind Nick Faldo.

The new European captain made his debut alongside England’s quietly-spoken David Gilford but lost 4 and 2 to Lanny Watkins and Hale Irwin. He won his first match alongside 2004 European captain Bernhard Langer when they defeated Steve Pate and Corey Pavin 2 and 1 in the fourballs.

Even at this fledging stage of a Ryder Cup career, Monty gave an indication of his desire and sheer tenacity in the matchplay environment when he literally came back from the dead against Mark Calcavecchia on the final day. The 45-year-old was five down at the turn, four down with four to play, against the American but somehow managed to pull a halved match out of the bag as his opponent wilted under the pressure.

His Ryder Cup debut ultimately ended in disappointment as Europe lost but by the next encounter at the Belfry in 1993 Monty had clearly eased into his surroundings.

Captain Bernard Gallacher adopted a bold policy of playing Monty alongside Faldo in all four matches over the opening two days. The tactic bore fruit as the pair returned two-and-a-half-points from a possible four. Although Europe went on to lose 15-13, Monty delivered on the final day with a narrow one-hole win over Lee Janzen.

The team Faldo / Montgomerie thread continued at Oak Hill two years later but they lost their opening foursomes match by one hole against current American captain Corey Pavin and Tom Lehman, captain at the K-Club in 2006.

Things didn’t improve much as they lost another and won one before Gallacher opted for a Team Scotland pairing of Monty alongside Sam Torrance, who lost 4 and 2 to Brad Faxon and Fred Couples.

Monty redeemed himself with a convincing 3 and 1 win over Ben Crenshaw in the singles as Europe triumphed 14.5-13.5.

When the Ryder Cup went to Valderrama in Spain for the first time under Seve Ballesteros’ watch, Monty teamed up once more with Langer, but they immediately lost to Tiger Woods and Mark O’Meara.

The European pair exacted revenge against the same opponents in the afternoon foursomes before Ballesteros played Monty alongside Darren Clarke for the first time and defeated David Love III and Fred Couples by one hole.

Monty would go on to record another win alongside Langer before halving his singles match with Scott Hoch.

For a second time Monty had the same partner for all four matches in Brookline when he teamed up 1999 British Open champion Paul Lawrie. It was a decent return of 2.5 from four as the veteran brought his fellow Scot under his wing. They took the notable scalps of Phil Mickelson and David Duval plus Tiger Woods and Steve Pate.

Monty kept his undefeated singles record going with a one-hole win over the late Payne Stewart.

Several hours before Paul McGinley holed the winning putt at the Belfry in 2002, Monty gave one of his most convincing performances on a golf course. He was like the commander-in-chief, leading from the front in the top singles match against Hoch.

From his birdie on the opening hole he never looked back and the eight-times European number one positively revelled in the situation before romping to a 5 and 4 win to set the tone for the afternoon.

The previous two days saw him team up with Langer once more, a combination that returned 2.5 points from three matches. He then paired up with Pádraig Harrington for the first time in the Ryder Cup and defeated Phil Mickelson and David Toms 2 and 1.

The Montgomerie / Harrington combination continued with gusto in 2004 at Oakland Hills where they set off in the top match and beat the ill-fated partnership of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson 2 and 1. In the afternoon foursomes they did a similar job (4 and 2) on Fred Funk and Davis Love III before eventually losing the following morning when Love gained revenge (3 and 2) alongside Stewart Cink.

For the first time in five Ryder Cups, Monty didn’t play all five matches. That didn’t stop him maintaining his phenomenal unbeaten singles record with a defiant one hole win over Toms as he holed the winning putt to give Europe a record 18.5-9.5 win.

By the time the Ryder Cup circus rolled into town at the K-Club in 2006, Europe were buoyant. The crowd had completely embraced Clarke and his decision to play so soon after his wife’s losing battle with cancer.

Monty was as brash as ever but the fire in the belly appeared to shine less brightly. In three matches before the singles he could only manage two halved matches alongside Lee Westwood. He lost his opening game to Woods and Furyk at the final hole when playing alongside Harrington.

In another record-equalling win in Kildare (18.5-9.5) Monty’s last contribution as a player came with yet another singles win. By coincidence he was pitted against Toms for the second successive Ryder Cup, but this time it was the top match, the all-important momentum builder. Yet again the steady American pushed him all the way only for Monty to sign off with a one-hole victory.

The often out-spoken Scot may rub some people up the wrong way, the majors proved elusive, but when it comes to the Ryder Cup Montgomerie has few peers. His legacy is assured and his singles record speaks for itself. Monty lives for Ryder Cup weeks and though his role will be an entirely different one at Celtic Manor in 2010, it could be his most important when galvanising a European team that will attempt to regain the trophy they lost in his absence at Valhalla last year.

Monty’s Ryder Cup Points at a Glance

1991 (1.5/3)

1993 (3.5/5)

1995 (2/5)

1997 (3.5/5)

1999 (3.5/5)

2002 (4.5/5)

2004 (3/4)

2006 (2/4)

Total: 23.5/36 (64%)

Singles record: 7/8 (six wins, two halves)

Ryder Cup Record

1991 Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Foursomes

D Gilford/C Montgomerie lost to L Wadkins/H Irwin (4 and 2)

Fourball

B Langer/C Montgomerie beat S Pate/C Pavin (2 and 1)

Singles

Third match: C Montgomerie halved with M Calcavecchia

(Monty points return: 1.5 from 3)

1993 Belfry, England

Foursomes:

N Faldo/C Montgomerie beat R Floyd/F Couples (4 and 3)

Fourballs:

N Faldo/C Montgomerie halved with P Azinger/F Couples

Foursomes:

N Faldo/C Montgomerie beat L Watkins/C Pavin (3 and 2)

Fourballs:

N Faldo/C Montgomerie lost to J Cook/Chip Beck (2 holes)

Singles:

Third match: C Montgomerie beat L Janzen (1 hole)

(3.5 from 5)

1995 Oak Hill Country Club, New YorkFoursomes:

N Faldo/C Montgomerie lost to C Pavin/T Lehman (1 hole)

Fourballs:

N Faldo/C Montgomerie lost to F Couples/D Love (3 and 2)

Foursomes:

N Faldo/C Montgomerie beat C Strange/J Haas (4 and 2)

Fourballs:

S Torrance/C Montgomerie lost to B Faxon/F Couples (4 and 2)

Singles:

Seventh match: C Montgomerie beat B Crenshaw (3 and 1)

(2 from 5)

1997 Valderrama, SpainFourballs:

B Langer/C Montgomerie lost to T Woods/M O’Meara (3 and 2)

Foursomes:

B Langer/C Montgomerie beat T Woods/M O’Meara (5 and 3)

Fourballs:

D Clarke/C Montgomerie beat F Couples/D Love (1 hole)

Foursomes:

B Langer/C Montgomerie beat L Janzen/J Furyk (1 hole)

Singles:

10th match: C Montgomerie halved with S Hoch

(3.5 from 5)

1999 Brookline, Massachusetts

Foursomes:

C Montgomerie/P Lawrie beat D Duval/P Mickelson (3 and 2)

Fourballs:

C Montgomerie/P Lawrie halved with D Love /J Leonard

Foursomes:

C Montgomerie/P Lawrie lost to H Sutton/J Maggert (1 hole)

Fourballs:

C Montgomerie/P Lawrie beat S Pate/T Woods (2 and 1)

Singles:

10th Match: C Montgomerie beat P Stewart (1 hole)

(3.5 from 5)

2002 Belfry, England

Fourballs:

B Langer/C Montgomerie beat S Hoch/J Furyk (4 and 3)

Foursomes:

B Langer/C Montgomerie halved with P Mickelson/D Toms

Foursomes:

B Langer/C Montgomerie beat S Hoch/S Verplank (1 hole)

Fourballs:

C Montgomerie/P Harrington beat P Mickelson/D Toms (2 and 1)

Singles:

Top match: C Montgomerie beat S Hoch (5 and 4)

(4.5 from 5)

2004 Oakland Hills, Michigan

Fourballs:

C Montgomerie/P Harrington beat P Mickelson/T Woods (2 and 1)

Foursomes:

C Montgomerie/P Harrington beat D Love/F Funk (4 and 2)

Fourballs:

C Montgomerie/P Harrington lost to S Cink/D Love (3 and 2)

Singles:

Sixth match: C Montgomerie beat D Toms (1 hole)

(3 from 4)

2006 The K-Club, Ireland

Fourballs:

C Montgomerie/P Harrington lost to T Woods/J Furyk (1 hole)

Foursomes:

L Westwood/C Montgomerie halved with P Mickelson/C DiMarco

Foursomes:

L Westwood/C Montgomerie halved with C Campbell/V Taylor

Singles:

Top match: C Montgomerie beat D Toms (1 hole).

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