Davies harboured hopes of making the team after a good start to the year

Rhys Davies will have an unofficial role alongside European captain Colin Montgomerie at the Ryder Cup in Newport's Celtic Manor in October.

"I think it was important the Welsh had some representation out on that course during the week," said Montgomerie. "He will be my personal buggy driver.

"Rhys is a Ryder Cup player of the future - the very near future. He is the guy with the $1m putting stroke."

Davies, 25, as expected missed out in the race for a European wild card.

Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald and Edoardo Molinari got the nod from Montgomerie to join automatic qualifiers Peter Hanson, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Ross Fisher, Martin Kaymer, Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Francesco Molinari.

Scot Montgomerie also named Sergio Garcia as his fourth vice-captain.

Wales' leading golfer Davies had hoped to make the team after a superb start to his first full season on the Tour.

But his form has slipped since winning the Hassan II Championship in Morocco.

The United States won the last Ryder Cup in 2008 after Europe had emerged victorious from the previous three.

This year's tournament takes place in south Wales from 1-3 October.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version