Casey thrilled by Ryder Cup call-up

Paul Casey landed in Phoenix last night to a barrage of messages and calls - all of them congratulating him on his Ryder Cup wild card.

Casey was flying from Boston when captain Nick Faldo made his decision at Gleneagles and it was two hours before he learnt the news.

'I am absolutely thrilled that Nick has chosen to make me one of his two captain's picks,' he said.

'It is very flattering considering the large number of in-form players he had to choose from and I hope I will keep up my recent form for Nick and the European team.

'I have had the fantastic experience of being part of two winning European Ryder Cup sides and hope that we can make it a third at Valhalla.'

Montgomerie not surprised by Faldo's choice

Colin Montgomerie has admitted Nick Faldo's decision not to award him a Ryder Cup wild card came as no surprise.

But in no way does the 45-year-old Scot think that a Ryder Cup career stretching back to 1991 is over.

'I do feel I have not played my last Ryder Cup, but I have to get my consistent game back,' said Montgomerie.

'It will be harder next time, so I have to raise the bar as well. But I am determined to do that.

'Always you hope you might get picked because we all know what credentials I can bring to the Ryder Cup, but I think I was even fourth or fifth on the list.'

By that Montgomerie said he felt not only the chosen pair Casey and Ian Poulter were ahead of him, but also Darren Clarke and possibly US-based Carl Pettersson as well.

He does admit, though, that in his own mind - like so many others - Clarke was the one in 'pole position' following his win in Holland in the penultimate counting event.

Montgomerie also repeated the view he first expressed last week that it would have been good to see Poulter and Casey play the final qualifying tournament at Gleneagles rather than stay in America.

He was not prepared to criticise captain Faldo over his decisions, however.

Asked if he thought the presence of heavyweights like himself and Clarke in the team room might have been a reason for Faldo going for two younger players he replied: 'I don't think that was in his thoughts.

'I think he picked the two players he thought would get the most points. Let's hope they do.

'I would not say it's going to be punishment watching them. I will look forward to it - to see how people react and to learn how I might do it in the future.'

Montgomerie is expected to be Europe's captain when the match is staged in Scotland at Gleneagles in 2014.