Montgomerie and Langer were part of Europe's 2004 Cup-winning team

Colin Montgomerie has refused to rule out handing a Ryder Cup wild card to Bernhard Langer, even though the German quit top-level golf several years ago.

The 53-year-old has played in 10 Ryder Cups and now competes on the US Seniors Tour, but has won both the British and US Seniors' Opens in recent weeks.

"I would not rule out picking Bernhard," said Montgomerie.

"It wouldn't be such an out-of-the-blue pick. I think he's playing as well as he ever has and he's said he is."

Montgomerie said Langer's achievement in winning the British event at Carnoustie and then travelling through eight time zones to beat local favourite Fred Couples at the US tournament in Seattle showed the sort of experience and quality he could bring to the team.

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"He said afterwards that he used everything he had learned in the Ryder Cup to overcome a very vocal home support [in Seattle] and I think it wouldn't be such a dramatic move to have someone of that age and that experience in the team," said Montgomerie.

"I know through having played with Bernhard Langer that he is as good a partner as anyone could ever have."

Montgomerie, who has already named Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Thomas Bjorn as his vice-captains, has another month to go before he must finalise the team to play the United States at Celtic Manor in Wales on 1-3 October.

One player he would hope to have available, but may possibly not, is European number one Lee Westwood.

The world number three pulled out of the Bridgestone Invitational last Friday after two rounds, because of a persistent calf problem.

He says he needs at least six weeks of rest and treatment before he can return to action.

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