Monty enthused by Cup possibilities

Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie is excited by the prospect of leading Europe's strongest ever line-up at Celtic Manor later this year.

With four-time winner and European number one Lee Westwood heading the list of established names and Rory McIlroy topping an exciting group of potential rookies, Montgomerie is delighted with the way his team is developing ahead of October's highly anticipated showdown.

Europeans currently occupy seven places inside the world's top 11, while untested German world number six Martin Kaymer and 2006 winner Robert Karlsson have already won this season.

'It is and will be the strongest collection of players ever assembled. We have never had so many high-ranked players in the world, said Montgomerie ahead of this week's Dubai Desert Classic.

'And they are improving. Martin Kaymer is getting better, Robert Karlsson is coming back, Paul Casey is coming back, Padraig Harrington is still improving, Westwood is still improving.

'They are all getting better, which is so exciting and the ones coming through are also working hard and becoming great. No captain has had so much potential as myself.

'Last year was more admin behind the scenes, now we are looking at the players in the team and how it is going to formulate, it is fantastic to see it taking shape.'

Paul Casey showed glimpses he had recovered from his long-standing rib problem in Qatar last week, while Kaymer reassured Montgomerie he was fully fit following last year's go-kart crash - a point be underlined with last month's win in Abu Dhabi.

World number nine McIlroy and Kaymer are virtual certainties for debuts this year, while Ross Fisher, Alvaro Quiros - who has matured in the eyes of Montgomerie - Ross McGowan and World Cup-winning Italian brothers Francesco and Edoardo Molinari are also making strong cases for inclusion.

'They will be rookies, but they have already played in the WGC events and the majors. To call them rookies is almost unfair," added five-time Ryder Cup winner Montgomerie.

'In my day we hadn't even played in America before we went over to play in the Ryder Cup. I hadn't played an American major when I was playing in my first Ryder Cup in 1991; my first American major was 1992.

'There is a necessity to get the dynamic and blend between youth and experience right, but not as much a necessity as it used to be.'

Montgomerie will have three captain's picks at his disposal to complete the 12-man line-up, one more than was available to predecessor Nick Faldo ahead of the defeat at Valhalla in 2008.
'I don't want to waste my picks on players that should have made it,' said Montgomerie.

'I want to pick players who I think will benefit the team, other than having to pick players who haven't played to their potential during the year.

Montgomerie was speaking after Emirates were confirmed as the official airline of the 2010 Ryder Cup and an official partner for the 2012 trip to Medinah Country Club in Illinois.