Monty: '2018 European Ryder Cup Side Best Ever'
The Ryder Cup winning captain says Thomas Bjorn's team could be the best ever
The Ryder Cup winning captain says Thomas Bjorn's team could be the best ever
Monty: '2018 European Ryder Cup Side Best Ever'
Thomas Bjorn's European Ryder Cup side attempt to regain the trophy in September at Le Golf National after losing 17-11 at Hazeltine in 2016.
The Europeans are underdogs if you look at the odds, with the USA side boasting the likes of Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler and potentially Tiger Woods.
However, Colin Montgomerie, playing in this week's Senior Open at St Andrews, says Bjorn should be "very, very confident" and that he may possess the best European side in history.
"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."
Monty also believes that none of the players making their first Ryder Cup appearances can realistically be called rookies anymore.
Get the top Black Friday deals right in your inbox: Sign up now!
The hottest deals and product recommendations during deals season straight to your inbox plus all the best game-changing tips, in-depth features and the latest news and insights around the game.
"When you add up the new boys coming through, they are not rookies anymore, the way that we were in '91, you know.
"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. And these are rookies. Now, we haven't had that before. Our rookies were rookies and had to be hidden and, you know, protected, fathered, really, through that."
Expand Ryder Cup Teams 2021 – Whistling Straits
Ryder Cup Teams 2021 – Whistling Straits
The Ryder Cup teams are complete - here…
Expand 2018 US PGA Will Not Be Televised On Sky Sports Or BBC
2018 US PGA Will Not Be Televised On Sky Sports Or BBC
Exclusive broadcasting rights have been given to ELEVEN…
Expand 20 Things You Didn’t Know About Francesco Molinari
20 Things You Didn’t Know About Francesco Molinari
Get to know this year's Open Champion Francesco…
Molinari's victory broke the string of five American major victories in a row, with Koepka winning last year's US Open, Spieth winning the Open, Thomas winning the USPGA, Reed the Masters and Koepka the US Open again.
Montgomerie believes that the streak ending will have given the Europeans confidence.
"Now it's very different. We've got a straight strength, great strength and depth, as well and it's looking extremely good for Thomas. As I said, the mentality of a European breaking an American duck as well. We've had four American winners, across TPC, it was about time Europe came in and broke that duck and we have now.
"That will give confidence to the rest of the lot, as well."
Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
-
10 Big Movers In The FedEx Cup Fall Standings
Some players made big moves in the FedEx Cup Fall stage of the PGA Tour season, up and down - here are 10 of the most notable
By Mike Hall Published
-
Quiz! Can You Name All The Major Winners Who Are Playing On The LIV Golf Circuit?
Can you name all those players in LIV Golf who had previously won a Major?
By Roderick Easdale Published
-
Is This FootJoy's Most Exciting New Golf Shoe In Years?
Dan Parker discusses whether the new FootJoy Fuel golf shoe has the potential to be FootJoy's most exciting to date...
By Dan Parker Published
-
Governing Bodies Crack Down On Distance As Driver Shaft Lengths Limited
The R&A and USGA have introduced a new local rule to ensure professionals and elite amateurs do not use 48-inch driver shafts
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Five-Year-Old Prodigy Raising Money And Awareness For Organ Donation
George is taking on the challenge to raise money and awareness for organ donation
By Andrew Wright Published
-
Robert MacIntyre Returns To Shinty After Ryder Cup Disappointment
The left-hander has been in action for his local shinty side, Oban Celtic
By Andrew Wright Published
-
Pro Plays 36 Holes In Under 80 Minutes To Win British Speedgolf Championship
Buckinghamshire professional Luke Willett took the British Speedgolf title
By Fergus Bisset Published
-
"A Real Kick In The Teeth" - Greenkeeper After "Embarrassment" Course Comments
We chat to James Tibbles, head greenkeeper at Andover GC, after he was subject to negative comments on the course's condition
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Tiger Woods' 2002 Backup Putter Sells For $393,300
Tiger Woods' 2002 Backup Putter Sells For $393,300
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Olivia Lee Wins 2021 Peter McEvoy Trophy
Olivia Lee has become the first female to win the historic Peter McEvoy Trophy.
By Dan Parker Published