Colin Montgomerie in relaxed mood with new caddy Steve Rawlinson

Ian Woosnam, Bernhard Langer and Sandy Lyle have already put their names forward to succeed Sam Torrance as European skipper next year at Oakland Hills in Detroit.

Nick Faldo has also expressed his interest in leading the home side two years later at the K Club in Dublin.

But while Faldo feels there should be an official selection process, Montgomerie believes the captain should simply be announced by the Ryder Cup committee instead of being contested in public.

Montgomerie, who is also a strong contender to be captain in 2006, said: "I don't want to get into a bidding war.

"The American captain is announced, we tend to get into a bidding war.

We have to select the best captain for the job at the time Colin Montgomerie

"We already have three up for the next one, Woosie, Langer and Sandy, and two people are going to have to lose and we don't want a situation where people lose out on a Ryder Cup captaincy.

"I feel it should be announced somehow. Asked in private, accepted and then announced as opposed to being played out in the press and public. There are only losers then, no winners."

Woosie to wait for captaincy

With the likes of Woosnam, Langer and Faldo all of a similar age, Europe have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to choosing future captains.

"The Americans used to be in that position and we are now," Montgomerie added.

"There are a number of players putting themselves up for captain.

"Sam has brought the age of the captain down because he made it very clear, and I agree with him, that the captain should be playing on tour with the senior players, and also able to understand and having played with the younger players."

Monty could be competing with Faldo for the 2006 captaincy

That is one of the reasons why Woosnam has changed his original wish to wait to be captain until 2010 when the contest will be staged at the Celtic Manor resort, venue for this week's Wales Open.

The Welshman also feels it is advantageous for the captain to have been vice-captain previously, as he was under Torrance last year.

But Montgomerie believes that victory should be the only consideration.

"We have to select the best captain for the job at the time, to try and win the Ryder Cup, or as I like saying now, retain the Ryder Cup," Montgomerie added.

"Miguel Angel Jimenez was number two to Seve (at Valderrama in 1997), that didn't make him captain next time.

"Just because Bernhard Langer has not been a number two doesn't mean he can't be captain next time. It doesn't work that way."

As for his own captaincy prospects, Montgomerie would prefer it to be in Europe given his difficult relationship with American crowds, possibly in 2006 even if he makes the team.

"If I qualify in eighth, ninth or 10th position in 2006 I feel I would be better off as captain rather than playing once or twice," he revealed.