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Colin Montgomerie led Europe to glory this year - but believes the selection process needs adjustment. Lynne Cameron/PA Wire/Press Association Images
Ryder Cup

Montgomerie calls for changes in Ryder Cup selection

Colin Montgomerie wants to avoid the painful wild-card decisions he had to make this year.

Victorious Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has called for changes to the way Europe selects its Ryder Cup team as they gear up to defend their trophy in 2012.

Following Monday’s epically close win over the USA, Montgomerie has called for changes that will avoid what he said was ”the worst day of my professional career” when he was forced to leave world number seven Paul Casey and and 2008 Ryder Cup star Justin Rose out of his squad.

Under the current rules the European side is selected from world rankings points and the PGA Tour list, but some players can miss out. Montgomerie said:

We have to devise a system of getting top players like that into the European team. I don’t want any future captain to have to go through what I went through on that awful evening in Gleneagles.

Fortunately, this is something Montgomerie can have an influence on. He sits on the European Tour committee which will select his successor for the next competition in Medinah, just outside Chicago, in 2012 and discuss any new selection process.

Montgomerie has already endorsed Jose Maria Olazabal for the 2012 captaincy.