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Montgomerie will not seek Faldo advice

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Montgomerie on Ryder Cup rivalry
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Colin Montgomerie ridicules suggestions he will seek Ryder Cup advice from Nick Faldo
  • Scot says he will turn to "winning captains" like Ian Woosnam for thoughts
  • Montgomerie happy with progress of young European players on Tour

Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi -- Colin Montgomerie has ridiculed suggestions that he will seek advice from Nick Faldo on captaining the European Ryder Cup team in 2010.

During an exclusive interview with CNN's Living Golf, the 46-year-old Scot laughed at the notion that he would take advice from a losing captain ahead of Europe's bid to recapture the trophy from the U.S. at Celtic Manor in October.

When asked whether he wanted Faldo's thoughts Montgomerie said: "Ah...no. I might turn for advice from some winning captains like Ian Woosnam, Sam Torrance or Bernhard Langer -- all of whom I've played and won under.

"But also some leaders or managers outside of the world of golf. The likes of Gareth Edwards - ambassador for Celtic Manor, and Alex Ferguson...great man managers, great leaders."

After the Faldo-led European side were defeated in 2008, Montgomerie remained determined that his players would not become complacent in 2010:

"All credit to the U.S. for winning the Ryder Cup back in four events. I wasn't there, I was watching TV and I saw the Americans hole more putts than we did, and that's how it is in match play and in golf - those who hole most putts, win. We've got to get those greens sorted out."

And for this he has a plan: "As home captain, I have the advantage of speaking to the green keeper at Celtic Manor about the turning and pace of the greens. I'll go through my team and ask them exactly what pace they want and we'll have it that way."

This is the first time that we've ever had this amount of talent so high up in the world rankings
--Colin Montgomerie
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But "Monty" may not require any such advantage this year. After watching Germany's Martin Kaymer steam to victory in Abu Dhabi, he is positive about the handful of rookies vying for a place on this year's team.

"This is the first time that we've ever had this amount of talent so high up in the world rankings so I'm not worried about their inexperience because they're playing in world events, playing in majors and playing against their American counterpart's week in week out," he said.

On the subject of which young players will be making the 2010 Ryder Cup team the Scot added: "Kaymer from Germany, Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland and of course Ross Fisher from England ... those three will be expected to make the team."

One major feather in the European cap come October could be the absence of Tiger Woods, who is currently taking an indefinite break from the game following his "transgressions."

Montgomerie, however, was keen to have his opponents strengthened by the presence of the world number one.

"So let's hope - and I'm saying this publicly here, let's hope that he [Woods] gets back on a golf course as soon as possible, because we're very fortunate to have the best sportsman playing our game of golf. He is sorely missed and we need him back as soon as possible."