Ryder Cup: 'The biggest event in my golf career' says Colin Montgomerie

COLIN Montgomerie was in a jovial mood as he paid the first of a string of scheduled visits to the vast media centre that sits below the Twenty Ten Course clubhouse at Celtic Manor yesterday. When addressed by one of his audience as 'Captain Montgomerie', he milked it for all its worth and had the place in stitches when asked about having a different Ryder Cup role on this occasion.

• European captain Colin Montgomerie offers his opposite number Corey Pavin a friendly greeting at Celtic Manor yesterday. The pair boxed cleverly when quizzed on a whole host of topics by the media

Corey Pavin, sitting to the right of the Scot, answered that question first, saying his game wouldn't be nearly sharp enough to be considered as an asset in a playing capacity due to the fact he hadn't touched a golf club for nearly a month. Montgomerie simply couldn't help himself from indulging in some self- deprecation. "Corey has not hit a golf shot for a month; I haven't hit a golf shot for two years," he declared.

Montgomerie described this week as "the biggest event in my golfing career" yet is finding it strange to have headed to Newport without the tools of his trade. "This is the first time I've arrived with no golf clubs. It's quite weird, really, and struck me when I stood on the first tee on Friday when I arrived," he added.

When Pavin and his American team arrived in Wales yesterday - they'd taken an overnight flight from Atlanta, where most of the players had been involved in the Tour Championship - Montgomerie was there along with wife Gaynor to greet them off the plane. Pavin, who emerged first, had the Ryder Cup in his hands and posed for pictures before being joined by his players - Tiger Woods wore dark glasses despite a lead-grey sky overhead - on the steps.

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A few hours later, as they sat side-by-side in the media centre, Montgomerie and Pavin both boxed cleverly when grilled about a whole host of topics, including the way the course has been set up this week, the role Woods will be expected to play by the American captain and how much preparation the pair had put in to the various speeches they will make over the next few days.

"I haven't played around with the course at all," said Montgomerie on the first of those issues. "I don't think it was right to set the course up in any other way than to what it's been designed for - it's a great golf course and is in super condition. It is set up in a very fair manner to allow the better team to win."

As predicted, controversially, by Nick Faldo during his closing ceremony speech at Valhalla two years ago, it is likely to rain at some point this week, with a 10-15mph wind also being forecast for the match itself.

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