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Top coach Butch Harmon is worried whether Colin Montgomerie can balance a Ryder Cup captaincy with his playing commitments.
Harmon, in Dubai to unveil his first golf school outside of the US – The Butch Harmon School of Golf at Dubai Sports City – expressed his concerns at a press conference today.
“I was very surprised that Colin Montgomerie wanted to be captain because I think Olazabal and Monty could still make the team. I thought going to Wales, Woosie would be perfect one to be captain of the team, he’s the natural fit. That allows Montgomerie and Olazabal a chance to make the team.
“I know that Monty has lobbied very hard for it and he is obviously the front runner from what I understand. But I still think that Colin can make the team but he has obviously chosen that he wants to be captain.
“I don’t think that you can do both. I don’t think that you can be captain and play like you could in the old days. I think the job is too big for that. So it’s going to be interesting to see if they do pick Monty.
“After they pick him it will be interesting to see what will happen to his game, because it’s a big job to be Ryder Cup captain. So it’ll be a very interesting scenario. I would have picked Woosie if it was me! “
Harmon though is not worried for the US team if Monty is captain: “All I know is that the captain can’t play. It doesn’t matter who the captain is, the players have to play. If the players don’t play well, they’re not going to win.
“The reason that the Americans won last year is because they played better. The reason that the Europeans have won all these other years is because they’ve played better. I think a lot of the times the captaincy is exaggerated as to how important it is.”
“I think it’s important in a team room to have camaraderie with the players. I’m not sure if Faldo had that last time. I think that Monty will have a better chance at that. So it’ll be interesting.”
The Butch Harmon School of Golf, located at The Els Club in Dubai Sports City, will bring the most comprehensive golf instruction to the Middle East. Harmon, who guided Tiger Woods to fame and forrtune, currently works with Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson.
