Montgomerie leads European players

Colin Montgomerie is playing team leader, confidant and chief cheerleader to Europe's Ryder Cup squad this week -- and he is thriving on the challenge.

The 41-year-old Briton is one of the most successful players in Cup history but needed a wild card invitation from captain Bernhard Langer to qualify for his seventh team this time.

Langer clearly expects Montgomerie again to be a formidable performer when the action gets underway on Friday but in the meantime is drawing heavily on his experience and Ryder Cup know-how for a 12-strong team including five rookies.

"It is different this year in that I qualified by not qualifying," Montgomerie told reporters on Wednesday. "Bernhard selected me as a wild card pick to help the team cause.

"I enjoy the position that I have. I was the leader of the pack in Europe for seven years when I topped the order of merit and I took on the role of leader towards the end of that time and have now and I enjoy it.

"Usually when you enjoy something, you're usually quite good at it.

"So I've been speaking to the rookies and I think we're preparing in a very, very positive way and should be ready by the time Friday morning springs around." In particular, he has been preaching the importance of team spirit and togetherness.

"My personal record in this event is actually meaningless to me. It doesn't matter who attains the points this week -- as long as it adds up to 14 1/2 (winning total) -- hopefully -- at the end of the day.

"Personally, this event means absolutely nothing to me. Never has."

Montgomerie has never lost one of the all-important final Sunday singles matches when the Cup is decided and was again a winner in 2002 at the Belfry when Europe won back the trophy.

He has never been able to recreate that kind of form in any of golf's four majors but still believes the Ryder Cup is the most challenging.

"I think for the eight guys who start out on Friday morning it's very important how they handle themselves under the severest of pressure," he said.

"I'm not saying that major championships aren't pressure. I've been in situations when it's quite pressurised but nothing prepares you for this.

"It's a unique situation and I don't think that winning majors or doing well in majors can prepare you for what's to be had on Friday morning."

The Scot has been targeted by U.S. crowds in Ryder Cup matches and in 1999 the abuse became so vitriolic that his father James withdrew from behind the ropes rather than endure more of it.

"I don't think that Brookline will appear again. I think the world is a different place, a better place since then. I don't think we'll have that situation at all."