Faldo's Singles Were Out of Order, Says Monty

Colin Montgomerie has criticized European captain Nick Faldo for not fielding his players in the right order on the final day of the Ryder Cup. Montgomerie, who was overlooked by Faldo as one of two wildcard picks for Europe's failed bid to retain the trophy in Valhalla last weekend, claims that the Englishman made a mistake in not front-loading his singles lineup with his strongest players.

Asked if he thought Faldo got the best out of the team beaten by five points in Kentucky Montgomerie, who missed out on the action for the first time since 1989, replied: "Possibly not." And the eight-time European No1, who could have surpassed Faldo's cup points record had he been invited along, gave the broadest hint that the decision to put double Open and PGA champion Padraig Harrington out last in the singles was the gravest error.

"It occurred to me [when he saw the order] that unfortunately [Ian] Poulter, [Lee] Westwood, Harrington are possibly our three strongest players and they might not be - might be, but might not be - involved in the final shake-up. Play them earlier and they would have been involved 100%. Only once in the whole history of the Ryder Cup has the No12 decided the match; Bernhard Langer in 1991."

Montgomerie also believes that Sandy Lyle should succeed Faldo for the next tournament at Celtic Manor in 2010, despite growing calls for Welshman Ian Woosnam to return to guide the side to victory as he did at The K Club two years ago. Of Europe's "Big Five" of the 1980s - Seve Ballesteros, Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Lyle and Woosnam - only Lyle has not yet been given the captaincy. "I think it would be nice to see him," said Montgomerie. "I feel it would be a shame if it wasn't Sandy."

Montgomerie added that no amount of money would change his mind about wanting to play again rather than captain next time. He also said that the next three leaders almost picked themselves, implying that Lyle should be in charge in 2010, José María Olazábal in Chicago in 2012 and then himself at Gleneagles in 2014. By then Montgomerie also hopes that Europe will have copied the United States' selection process of having four wild cards rather than the current two - something he will certainly be asking for if made captain.