BMW International Open: Old Pals Act Puts Monty in the Swim for Ryder Slot

It is perhaps a little hard to describe the leader of a tournament as an irrelevance, but in the greater scheme of things this week that is what Retief Goosen is, here at the BMW International Open.

This year's US Open champion is, of course, ineligible for the Ryder Cup and, with none of that extra qualifying pressure on him, the South African yesterday got round in 66, six under par, to take the lead from two other irrelevances - the American John Daly and an Australian, Peter O'Malley.

Colin Montgomerie, a definite relevance, is also on five under, as is Staffordshire's David Lynn, who, though a European, is only a marginal relevance. He cannot win his way into the team even if he finishes first here and is surely well behind the other candidates for a captain's pick.

One of those is Alex Cejka, who had a four-under 68. The first thing the German saw when he arrived for his afternoon round was the names of Montgomerie and Luke Donald, rivals for a pick both, on the leaderboard. That he then went out and matched the latter was a good effort.

It may be some time, if ever, since Daly has been described as an irrelevance but the US Ryder Cup captain Hal Sutton, by his actions, clearly thinks so. Most of the American media thought Daly should have been a pick for their team but yesterday the Wild Thing thought that very support could be why he is not in the team.

"I think" he said succinctly, "it pissed Hal off."

Had he spoken to Sutton about getting into the team? "No" said Daly, "I don't like to kiss ass to get someone's attention."

Montgomerie has gradually returned to his old ebullient self, after the trauma of the break-up of his marriage. Yesterday another step was revealed on the road to recovery when he appeared with his former caddie Alastair McLean back on the bag.

The two Scots worked together for 10 years, during which time Montgomerie won seven orders of merit titles and 27 tournaments around the world, so there is little about his game that McLean does not already know.

"He gives me confidence" said Montgomerie, "and this whole game is based on confidence. We have a past together and a very successful one at that. It worked well again today. I played the 9th, my last, differently with him on the bag."

The 9th is a long hole but yesterday, into a slight breeze and with a stream in front of the green, it was out of range in two shots for most.

"I would normally take a driver there, but that is the only club that can get you into trouble off that tee and as you can't get up anyway, why take the risk? Alastair told me to hit two three-irons and a pitching wedge, which I did and got my birdie."

He had previously eagled the long 6th, hitting a five-wood second to 15 feet and he was, naturally, delighted with a 67. He feels he still needs to keep reminding the Ryder Cup captain, Bernhard Langer, of his qualities and said: "A 67 doesn't hurt, does it? If I went out there and shot 78 it would be a case of 'What's happening here?' but I'm trying to win because if I do I obviously have more of a chance of being selected than otherwise."

Montgomerie played along side Donald, another looking for favour in Langer's eyes. The Scot said: "I was very impressed indeed with him. He's under a lot of pressure this week to perform and he's performing very well. In fact, given that, his score [68] was better than mine."

Asked if he was feeling the same kind of pressure as Donald, Montgomerie replied: "No, I don't think so. Bernhard knows me and knows what I can do in that type of competition more than he does Luke. Luke is a rookie and if I were a rookie I would feel I had to prove myself more than someone who had played in six Ryder Cups."

Paul McGinley, who missed a big chance last week when he failed to play like he can in the NEC Invitational in Ohio, confessed to feeling extra pressure here in trying to fend off those who covet his 10th, and last, automatic berth. "I tried not to look at the leaderboard" he said, "but it's difficult not to."

The Irishman managed a two-under 70 that included an eagle at the 18th, following a three-wood second shot from 269 yards to four feet.

Calculations as to what he needs to do to retain his place are almost impossible, but if he makes the cut he will have made a good start. Last year it fell at four under, but now the course has teeth, with long and, yesterday, wet rough and narrowed fairways. The cut may still fall under par, but only just.