EUROPEAN TOUR:COLIN MONTGOMERIE will be taking a close-up view today of a player he does not rule out handing a Ryder Cup wild card to next year – 52-year-old Bernhard Langer.
Europe’s current and former captains are partners in the opening round of the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Cologne.
“I’ve not played with Bernhard for a couple of years, but I know he’s here to win because I know how competitive he is,” said Montgomerie.
“As a foursomes partner, you could do a lot worse. I’m looking at every eligible player, and that includes him.”
Langer would become the oldest player in Ryder Cup history if he was selected, and it would be an even bigger shock than Greg Norman’s choice on Tuesday night of out-of-form Adam Scott for the Presidents Cup.
But the double Masters champion has won well over €1 million on the American Champions Tour (over-50s) again this season, with 11 top-10 finishes in 16 events, and on his last two appearances on the regular European circuit came sixth and ninth.
“He has kept himself in shape – and if you talk about the most professional player in golf over the last 30 years he would come top of the list in every aspect,” added Montgomerie, who partnered the German in 1991, 1997 and 2002.
Langer himself said yesterday: “I’ve been playing some of my better golf the last three years, that’s for sure. I’m not as strong or as flexible, but technically I think my swing is getting better. I’ve become more consistent, and my putting is at times better too.”
As for the possibility of equalling Nick Faldo’s record number of 11 caps next year, he added: “It would be up to the captain, because there is no way I’m going to qualify.”
With a field of only 78 this week, Langer might never have a better chance of becoming the oldest winner in European Tour history.
He won the title on the same Gut Larchenhof course eight years ago, and a number of stars are missing this time.
Out because of injury are defending champion Robert Karlsson and Martin Kaymer, last year’s and this year’s European number one.
Padraig Harrington, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia, Paul Casey and Luke Donald are all in the US – while Rory McIlroy has chosen to play in Korea.
Meanwhile, Westwood has told Britain and Ireland captain Paul McGinley he is unavailable for the Vivendi Trophy match against Continental Europe in Paris in two weeks. Harrington, Poulter, Garcia, Casey and Donald will all presumably be absentees as well if they qualify this week for the Tour Championship in Atlanta.
Mercedes-Benz Championship
Course: Gut Larchenhof, Cologne, Germany.
Par: 72.
Length: 7,289 yards.
Course record: 72 holes, KJ Choi (262 – 26 under par – in 2003); 18 holes, Fredrik Jacobsen (60 – 12 under – in 2003).
Layout: The greens on this Jack Nicklaus-designed course are usually very fast.
Prize money: €2 million. The winner will receive €333,330.
Field: 78. There will be no cut.
Irish players: Darren Clarke, Peter Lawrie, Shane Lowry, Gareth Maybin, Graeme McDowell, Paul McGinley, Damien McGrane.
Champion: Robert Karlsson, who won by two strokes from Francesco Molinari, will not defend the title because of an eye injury.
On TV: Sky Sports (1.30pm today).
Weather: Very good chance of rain over first two days and windier at the weekend.
