Montgomerie: Must play his way in?

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John Hawksworth and Denis Pugh reckon Colin Montgomerie will not be in the 2008 Ryder Cup team unless he plays his way in.

Montgomerie and his fellow Scot Marc Warren claimed World Cup glory in Shenzhen at the weekend and former European Tour professional Hawksworth would like to see both of them in Nick Faldo's team for next year's Ryder Cup.

But speaking on Golf Night, Hawksworth suggested Montgomerie would have to qualify automatically because he fears Faldo will not pick him.

He said: "They are the first Scots to win the World Cup and they both played superbly well.

"Monty is 44 now, Marc Warren is considerably younger and he has won on Tour and they are a great, great pairing. I would like to see Marc Warren in the Ryder Cup.

"It's tough to say which of the two of them has a better chance. It's quite early days, but if Monty needed a pick I don't know whether he would get one.

"There isn't room for everybody and only so many can play their way in. I'd definitely like to see Monty in, but I think he'd have to play his way in.

"But I'd say he has a better chance of playing his way in than Warren."

Tension

European Tour coach Pugh agreed that tension between Faldo and Montgomerie could hit the Scot's chances of making the team for Kentucky and insisted Warren has a lot to prove if he is to be selected.

He said: "It's time for Marc Warren to start showing his game, but with respect to him he hasn't brought that game to the big arena often enough.

"I always talk about him having the model golf swing and he has a great temperament. He showed that at the World Cup with some of the shots he played under the severest pressure.

"Clearly he can do it, but he hasn't done it enough to suggest he has a better chance than Colin.

"Colin has done it, but like John I don't think Colin will get picked for the team. I think he will play in or not be in."