Monty: '2018 European Ryder Cup Side Best Ever

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By Elliott Heath published 26 July 18

The Ryder Cup winning captain says Thomas Bjorn's team could be the best ever

Monty: '2018 European Ryder Cup Side Best Ever'

Thomas Bjorn's European Ryder Cup side attempt to regain the trophy in September at Le Golf National after losing 17-11 at Hazeltine in 2016.

The Europeans are underdogs if you look at the odds, with the USA side boasting the likes of Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler and potentially Tiger Woods.

However, Colin Montgomerie, playing in this week's Senior Open at St Andrews, says Bjorn should be "very, very confident" and that he may possess the best European side in history.

"It was him and McIlroy and Rose came through very well, and you put all those three together with Molinari's win, Thomas is probably looking at the best team that we've had assembled for, well, almost ever."

A-Z of the Ryder Cup — Montgomerie was the winning captain in 2010 at Celtic Manor

Monty also believes that none of the players making their first Ryder Cup appearances can realistically be called rookies anymore.

"When you add up the new boys coming through, they are not rookies anymore, the way that we were in '91, you know.

"It's very much world players now. Alex Noren hasn't played before, but he's a world player. Jon Rahm, world player. Molinari's played before, and Tommy Fleetwood, world player. And these are rookies. Now, we haven't had that before. Our rookies were rookies and had to be hidden and, you know, protected, fathered, really, through that."

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Molinari's victory broke the string of five American major victories in a row, with Koepka winning last year's US Open, Spieth winning the Open, Thomas winning the USPGA, Reed the Masters and Koepka the US Open again.

Montgomerie believes that the streak ending will have given the Europeans confidence.

"Now it's very different. We've got a straight strength, great strength and depth, as well and it's looking extremely good for Thomas. As I said, the mentality of a European breaking an American duck as well. We've had four American winners, across TPC, it was about time Europe came in and broke that duck and we have now.

"That will give confidence to the rest of the lot, as well."

Elliott Heath

Elliott Heath is our Senior Staff Writer and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016. He graduated in Sports Journalism in 2016 and currently manages the Golf Monthly news, courses and travel sections as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. Elliott has interviewed some huge names in the golf world including Sergio Garcia, Thomas Bjorn, Bernd Wiesberger and Scotty Cameron as well as a number of professionals on the DP World and PGA Tours. He has also covered three Open Championships on-site including at Carnoustie in 2018 when he was inside the ropes with Tiger Woods. He has played 31 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Old Head and Alwoodley. He currently plays at West Byfleet Golf Club in Surrey, where his handicap index floats between 3-5. His golfing highlight is making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, and he has made one hole-in-one.

Elliott is currently playing:

Driver: Honma TR20

3 wood: TaylorMade SIM2 Max

Hybrid: TaylorMade SIM Max

Irons: Mizuno MP5

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x