Monty names his three wild cards

Tuesday, 31 August 2010 16:15

Written by Editor

European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has selected Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald and Edoardo Molinari as his wildcard picks. Italian Molinari, 29, won the Johnnie Walker Championship on Sunday to impress Montgomerie and earn his spot ahead of Paul Casey and Justin Rose.Molinari joins brother Francesco, who was an automatic qualifier, for the team.

Peter Hanson and Miguel Angel Jimenez sealed the last two qualifying places after finishing well at Gleneagles. Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter, Ross Fisher and Francesco Molinari occupied the top seven places in the Ryder Cup rankings to also qualify automatically.

Montgomerie’s biggest headache was choosing between Casey and Harrington, and it was a brave call to favour the Irishman who has been out of sorts recently but has a wealth of experience to bring to the team. Six of the team - McIlroy, Kaymer, Fisher, Hanson and both Molinaris - will all be making their Ryder Cup debuts at Celtic Manor from 1-3 October.

Montgomerie claimed Molinari "probably didn't need to win" in Perthshire to earn a pick, however, he heaped lavish praise on the 2009 World Cup winner after he birdied his last three holes to snatch a one-shot victory from Australian Brett Rumford.

"In my time as a player on the European Tour, and I've been a member for 24 years, I don't think I've seen a finish of that quality under pressure by anyone anywhere," said Montgomerie. "I think what he did today was, literally, incredible and he is the type of player we need to regain the Cup from America."

The Molinaris, who won the World Cup together in China last year, will become the first siblings to play in the Ryder Cup since Bernard and Geoff Hunt played for Britain in their 1963 defeat against the USA. Montgomerie admitted he felt sorry for world number nine Casey and Rose, a two-time winner in the US this year, but said  Europe "had an embarrassment of riches on this occasion".

"Padraig has won three majors in the past two years, he has great stature in the game and when his back is up against the wall he comes out and gives it his all, tremendous," said  Montgomerie. "He is someone we felt that nobody in matchplay golf wants to play. He's a great competitor. "In Luke Donald we have someone who can compete in foursomes and fourball golf, and has played seven Ryder Cup games and only lost once."

Montgomerie also named out-of-form Spaniard Sergio Garcia, who has played in every Ryder Cup since 1999, as his fourth vice-captain alongside Paul McGinley, Darren Clarke and Thomas Bjorn."He said 'let me have a role', which shows what the Ryder Cup means to him and he is going to be a great asset to us," Montgomerie said.

Local Malaga Man Jimenez, 46, missed his nephew's wedding to defend his position in the last automatic qualifying spot at Gleneagles.