BBC SPORT | Golf | Monty urges Sam to stand down

Colin Montgomerie believes that victorious Sam Torrance should stand down as Ryder Cup captain while at the top.

Torrance led his side to a dramatic victory at The Belfry on Sunday and could be tempted to stay on in an attempt to retain the title on American soil in two years' time.

But Montgomerie, speaking at a news conference as he prepared for the Dunhill Links Championship, said: "How can Sam Torrance possibly beat that?

"What is he doing it for? To try to emulate that feeling? Well, I don't think that he can.

Fortune favours the brave and he was brave and fortunate

Colin Montgomerie

"There are very few sportsmen who can get out while at the top.

"Sam is at the top right now. I would feel that, along with with a number of players, Sam should take the opportunity to leave at the top.

"But there is no rush for that at this stage as I think the captain is not announced until December.

"He obviously has the backing of us all. It is up to him."

Monty was not yet putting his name forward to lead the side in the 2004 Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills Country Club in Michigan.

He would still hope to again prove the talisman in a playing role but admitted: "It is common knowledge that I would like to captain the team at some point in the future.

"And I would endeavour to do as good a job as Sam Torrance did."

Sam Torrance kisses the Ryder Cup
Monty praised Torrance for his tactics
Monty believes that Europe would not have secured victory had Torrance, who pulled out of this week's event through exhaustion and injury, not gambled with his last-day singles order.

Europe went into the final day as underdogs with the scores locked at 8-8.

But Torrance's strategy of sending out his top players first proved to be a masterstroke as the home team surged to victory by winning five singles, halving five and losing only two.

"What Sam did on Saturday night with his draw was a risk and you don't get big rewards in life unless you risk something," said Monty.

"If the first six or seven games didn't go as he wanted, we wouldn't have won the Ryder Cup.

"But fortune favours the brave and he was brave and fortunate."

Meanwhile, Ireland's Paul McGinley says the ball he holed from 10 feet with on the 18th green to clinch the Ryder Cup will be mounted and presented to Torrance.

"A friend of mine back in Ireland is a jeweller and he's going to mount it (the ball) and put it in a nice case and engrave the players' names in silver around the golf ball," McGinley said.

"We are then going to present it to Sam on behalf of the team.

"It's the least we can do. I'd love to keep it myself, but I think he is deserving of it.

"It will be just a little 'thank you' from the players back to Sam. I'm sure he'll cherish it."


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