Ryder Cup Captain Insist He Will Not be Affected

Europe's new Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has insisted that the role will not affect his European Tour goals.

Montgomerie, who uses a Yonex Cyberstar Nanospeed driver and Yonex Cyberstar Nanospeed foirway woods and irons, was named as captain for next year's Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in Wales earlier this year.

One of the key factors in his selection was the fact that Montgomerie is still an active member of the European Tour and is close to the players and this decision is really not expected by the many peoples but most know about this.

"I'll be playing the same schedule as I've always done," Montgomerie said. "The Tour and the board wanted someone that was playing full time in Europe with the players, and I'm going to play the same as I've always done the last 20 years, around about 28 to 30 tournaments, and I will keep doing that as long as I can.

"I think it's relaxed me on the golf course and is making it easier for me with my golf equipment to play without having to prove to any particular captain how I'm playing.

"I feel it's going to be easier through the next 18 months to perform to the standards that I'd like to get back to and so I don't fear there's any difficulty doing that being captain, there's no extra responsibility or pressure being put on me. No, in fact I think it's the opposite."

"It's very important to show that I'm still competing. I've always thought it was very important for players to have respect for their captain.

"If I start and keep winning in the 18 months before the Cup, it will be important for me standing on that first tee and for the team to look at me and know they have a captain competing at the very top level."

But Montgomerie played down suggestions that he might be a playing captain at Celtic Manor if he has a good season on the Tour.

"No, I will not be playing, even if I win most of the tournaments never mind one. I was selected as captain and not player," he said.

"We are very fortunate in Europe to have a number of players vying for those positions of higher standard than mine right now.

"That wealth of talent far outweighs anything I can do so I'll stay on the sidelines and try to help them round as best I can."