European Ryder Cup success driven by 'moral code', says Montgomerie
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[October 12, 2018]
By Andrew Both
CARY, North Carolina (Reuters) - Ryder
Cup great Colin Montgomerie dispelled suggestions that European
teams are always one big happy family but said that everyone abides
by the unwritten rule that any issues should be discussed in
private.
Montgomerie said he was surprised that American Patrick Reed had
publicly criticized his Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk and team mate
Jordan Spieth after the United States were thrashed by Europe in
Paris 11 days ago.
Reed told the New York Times that he had expected to partner Spieth,
with whom he had successfully teamed up in the competition two years
ago, and had been blindsided when they were split up in Paris.
“I could be on to you all day about what goes on in the team room in
the Ryder Cup and what’s been said and what hasn’t been said, but I
would never ever breach that code to say anything,” Montgomerie told
Reuters in an interview on the eve of the 50-and-over SAS
Championship, where he is defending champion.
"Every captain’s made some odd decisions and whatever but it doesn’t
really matter. You’re playing for the team and anything that goes on
behind those closed doors should stay behind those closed doors.
That’s our moral code anyway."

Montgomerie identified the prime reason why Europe has dominated the
Ryder Cup over the past three decades, particularly at home, where
it has won six in a row.
Six-times major winner Nick Faldo was hardly everyone’s best friend,
and neither was Montgomerie, or Sergio Garcia for that matter.
Garcia and likely 2020 European captain Padraig Harrington endured a
frosty relationship for years but when it was time to step up for
the Ryder Cup, they were united in a cause bigger than themselves.
“Oh my God (we) were playing for each other,” said Montgomerie, a
Scot who compiled an outstanding Ryder Cup record of 20 wins, nine
losses and seven halves.
He never lost in singles and also captained the European team to
victory in 2010.
“We’re all pulling together because we play golf, not because we
like each other particularly," he said.
"It’s like in any business, any company, you probably wouldn’t
socialize with 95 percent of your colleagues at work but once every
two years you do, and you get on with it, and you play for the
cause, which is trying to get 14-1/2 points."
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Golf-British Open - Scotland's Colin Montgomerie plays his approach
on the second hole during the first round - Royal Troon, Scotland,
Britain - 14/07/2016. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne Picture Supplied by
Action Images/File Photo

MICKELSON WOES
Assessing the 2018 American team, Montgomerie wondered whether Phil
Mickelson should have withdrawn from the team to make way for
someone in better form.
Mickelson was a captain’s pick but lost both of his matches on a
course that did not suit his game.
“Phil, you have to ask questions about his form coming into it,”
Montgomerie said.
“I remember... Sandy Lyle in 1989 when Tony Jacklin picked him and
Sandy said I’m not really playing very well, please (pick) somebody
else Tony.
“Possibly that would have been the thing to do for Phil, knowing the
course set-up as well. Phil needs a more wide open course, as he’s
said himself. The course should have been known by the captain and
the players.”
Mickelson, 48, and Tiger Woods, 42, are the two premier players of
their generation, but both have shockingly poor Ryder Cup records,
and Montgomerie wondered whether their days might be done in the
biennial event.
"Have Woods and Mickelson played their last Ryder Cups? We’ll see,"
Montgomerie said.
"Everything has to come to an end."
(Reporting by Andrew Both, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
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