Monty says Portuguese weather could suit 2018 cup
Next Ryder Cup battle for Medinah Club
Victorious Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie said that Portugal’s fine weather could suit the event when it comes to Europe in 2018, after heavy rain marred this year’s edition.
Monty’s men narrowly triumphed over the United States in soggy conditions at the Celtic Manor course in Wales earlier this month but the bad weather meant the tournament overran and finished a day late.
Portugal is bidding to host the 2018 cup, as are Spain, France, Germany, Holland and Sweden.
Montgomerie, in southern China for the Mission Hills Star Trophy celebrity pro-am tournament, stressed that he did not favour one bid over another, but said the climate in southern Europe could be a help.
“The one advantage the southern countries have – in Spain and in Portugal of course – is the weather,” he said.
“We had difficulty of course with the weather in Wales. It actually favoured us in the end but it wasn’t great to have to finish on the Monday.
“It would be great to have the Ryder Cup in any of those countries – I can’t favour any one but it’s great that Portugal has put its name in the hat.”
Europe and America will next do battle at the Medinah Country Club in the United States in 2012 before heading to Gleneagles in Scotland in 2014.
Former world number two Montgomerie said Portugal held special memories for him, as it was the scene of his first tournament victory, in 1989.
Montgomerie is among an 18-strong professional field competing at the Mission Hills course on the southern Chinese island of Hainan this weekend, with a 1.28 million dollar winner’s cheque at stake.
His appearance comes just over a week after he was involved in a car crash in Scotland.
The 47-year-old Montgomerie said he was lucky to avoid serious injury after his BMW 7-series collided with a van near Glasgow, leaving him trapped in the vehicle.