With just two months left before the Ryder Cup in Paris, the teams are taking shape, and Colin Montgomerie loves the European team’s chances.
Monty spoke to reporters before the Senior British Open this week, and he was asked about his confidence level in the squad Thomas Bjorn will lead in late September. “Very confident. Very, very confident,” Montgomerie said.
This, of course, follows Francesco Molinari’s impressive two-shot win at the British Open at Carnoustie. “Amazing what an Open victory does to a team mentality, and not just him,” Montgomerie said. “It was him and McIlroy, and Rose came through very well, and you put all those three together with Molinari’s win, Thomas is probably looking at the best team that we’ve had assembled for, well, almost ever.”
That is some high praise. Before losing at Hazeltine, the European had enjoyed a dominant decade, winning every match since 2008. But Monty thinks this team might be the toughest of the them all. “When you add up the new boys coming through, they are not rookies anymore,” he continued. “It’s very much world players now. Alex Noren hasn’t played before, but he’s a world player. Jon Rahm, world player. Molinari’s played before, and Tommy Fleetwood, world player.”
Montgomerie may have a point, but either way the September matches are sure to be some of the most highly anticipated in the event’s history. The Ryder Cup begins Friday September 28 in Paris.
