Europe's Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has scooped the BBC Sports Personality Coach of the Year award.

The 47-year-old Scot masterminded Europe's 14½-13½ victory over the United States at Celtic Manor.

He beat Blackpool manager Ian Holloway, who guided the Tangerines into the Premier League, and England cricket coach Andy Flower to the award.

Though not strictly a coach, Montgomerie was credited with getting the best out of his team in Wales.

Europe trailed 6-4 after the first two sessions but Montgomerie's men hit back to lead 9½-6½ ahead of the singles.

"It is an honour again to be here again and receive this award on behalf of 12 fantastic players and coaches, who got us prepared just that bit better than the opposition," said Montgomerie.

"It was a fantastic year for European golf, we've never been in ruder health, I'm privileged to be here to receive this on behalf of the European Tour."

As well as providing a source of inspiration himself, Montgomerie employed the support of his experienced team of vice-captains in Thomas Bjorn, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Sergio Garcia.

He also drafted in Ryder Cup great Jose Maria Olazabal during the tournament and invited the Spaniard's ailing former partner Seve Ballesteros to address the team by phone ahead of the event.

Montgomerie said after Graeme McDowell beat Hunter Mahan in the last group to seal the victory: "I didn't hit a shot, yet it is a proud, proud moment for me.

"I want to talk about how well everyone played, because to a man they were magnificent and they all gave me 110%, which was all I could ask for."

The captain's role is also to choose his wildcards and organise the pairings and singles order and McDowell insists Montgomerie performed his role to perfection.

"He was amazing. He's everything that is the Ryder Cup and to be able to do that for him was very special," said McDowell.

Montgomerie also has an enviable Ryder Cup record as a player, having never lost a singles match, and he sunk the winning putt in the 2004 match.

He won the European Order of Merit eight times and was a runner-up in five majors.

The closest he came to landing one of the big four came in 2006 at the US Open.

Montgomerie was tied for the lead with Phil Mickelson playing the final hole but made a double bogey to lose by a stroke to Australia's Geoff Ogilvy.

Despite having missed out in play-offs at the 1994 US Open and 1995 USPGA, the Scot said that was the only tournament where he "really messed up".

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