vice-captains

Montgomerie and his plethora of vice-captains? five at the last count? held a pow-wow on Sunday night and decided a man who could hold his nerve on the final nine holes of a US Open had the makings of a Ryder Cup hero.

Ryder Cup 2010: Graeme McDowell the perfect hero for Europe Lawrence Donegan 2010

The case for a Spanish captaincy received further backing from Darren Clarke, 42, and Paul McGinley, 43, two more of Montgomerie's vice-captains in south Wales and both of whom are members of the players 'committee.

Colin Montgomerie and players back José María Olazábal as 2012 captain Lawrence Donegan 2010

Impressed by the preparations for this year's event, Coltart points in particular to Montgomerie's choice of four vice-captains: Darren Clarke, Thomas Bjorn, Paul McGinley and Sergio García.

Cometh the Ryder Cup moment, cometh captain Colin Montgomerie Richard Williams 2010

Monty and the vice-captains [Thomas Bjorn, Sergio García, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Olazábal], they have been absolutely different class.

Ian Poulter praises Graeme McDowell after Ryder Cup win Jamie Jackson 2010

Old enmities were put to one side as Colin Montgomerie announced his backroom team for October's Ryder Cup, confirming that Darren Clarke, Thomas Bjorn and Paul McGinley will act as vice-captains in the contest against the United States at Celtic Manor in south Wales.

Colin Montgomerie buries hatchet to form his Ryder Cup dream team 2010

Westwood, who has not played competitive golf for more than a month, is recuperating from a leg injury and Paul McGinley, one of Europe's vice-captains, conceded in an interview with the Guardian that the world No3's fitness will be "an unknown factor until he turns up".

Lee Westwood injury could revive Paul Casey's Ryder Cup dream 2010

There was a strong feeling among the Scot's three vice-captains Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Thomas Bjorn – to whom he later added a fourth, Sergio García – that "loyalty" towards the European Tour should be a factor in team selection, albeit not the decisive one.

Ryder Cup 2010: Colin Montgomerie gives Edoardo Molinari wild card 2010

But if they lose, Montgomerie, along with his three vice-captains?

Ryder Cup reject Paul Casey makes point to Colin Montgomerie 2010

Azinger, an arch-antagonist, would say that of course but what might Montgomerie and his three vice-captains Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn and Clarke make of Ian Poulter's muted reaction to the decision to leave out Rose and the world No8 Paul Casey, both of whom he described as "great mates and friends".

Colin Montgomerie's Ryder Cup wild card picks spark controversy 2010

"Any team, any winning team, has fantastic support behind the scenes and my three vice-captains are very experienced, very passionate, very well-respected and committed to the regaining of the Ryder Cup," he said.

Colin Montgomerie buries hatchet to form his Ryder Cup dream team 2010