Ryder Cup Betting / Ralph Ellis / 04 May 2010 /

In spite of the captain's wishes, Europe's Ryder Cup hopefuls look unlikely to use the Welsh Open as an early opportunity to pit themselves against the Celtic Manor course. Ralph Ellis believes that this is another sign that Monty lacks the respect of his players.

Now what was I saying last week about Europe winning the Ryder Cup in spite of - rather than thanks to - Colin Montgomerie? There's yet more evidence today that our captain for Celtic Manor has less than the full respect of his young team.

It was the back end of last year when Monty was laying out his team building plans and identified the Welsh Open as the one "must enter" event in Europe for all his potential players. And it made logical sense. Here would be a golden opportunity in early June to get tournament practice on the 2010 course, the first in history to be designed and purpose built to host what's become the high point of every two years in the golfing calendar.

"I can't insist," admitted our Captain Confident. "But I am sure I will get a number to say 'yes' and I would expect those potential Ryder Cup players to all be playing."

How wrong can you be? Here we are less than a month away from the opening ball being struck, and it emerges in this morning's Guardian that not one of the five Europeans currently ranked in the world's top 10 have committed to play. Lee Westwood, Rory McIlory and Ian Poulter will definitely not be there - they will all be in the States getting ready for the US Open. Padraig Harrington and Martin Kaymer are said to be "thinking about whether they might come to Wales".

It's a nasty little snub to Monty's captaincy and demonstrates once more that - however committed the top stars might be when Ryder Cup week actually arrives - it plays little part in their thinking for the rest of the year. By definition it's a selfish, individual sport and players are following their own agendas. If you're backing Europe as short at [1.75] you'd like to think they are all building up towards a glorious team success at the end of the year. Clearly you'd be fooling yourself.

The good news, however, is they are doing pretty well regardless - especially McIlroy after that devastating finish of six successive threes for a sensational final round 62 at Quail Hollow. Mind you, even that was eclipsed by the 58 shot by Japan's new prodigy Ryo Ishikawa to win his fourth event on tour at the tender age of 18. Over to you Rory - a comparative veteran celebrating a 21st birthday today, and a tempting [24.0] to follow up his brilliance by winning The Players Championship.

Westwood also showed some guts last week, at one stage looking in danger of missing the cut. But while Tiger Woods was going from bad to worse, he fought through to finish the tournament level par. You get the impression he's not far from recapturing his Masters form, and is [29.0] for the Players. Harrington, who came up with a top 10 finish, is an equally appealing [32.0]. There's an argument for backing all three of them and waiting to see which gives you the best run for your money.

At least one is likely to, and whatever Monty's disappointment that they won't go to Celtic Manor until October, the reality is they all know that competing on the US Tour, where the prizes are bigger and the standards are higher, is the best preparation for meeting the US golfers when the Ryder Cup eventually arrives.


Five things you might not know about Ryo Ishikawa

1. Born September 17 1991 in Matsubushi, his father Katsubi, a bank executive, introduced the young Ryo to the game at the age of seven. His younger brother and sister also play golf

2. He's still not the youngest to play in the Masters - Tommy Jacobs in 1952 was 17 years and three months

3. He names Ian Poulter as a role model, and has had a headcover for his driver with the English star's face on it

4. His favorite food is tonkotsu, a pork and noodle soup, and pork cutlet

5. With an endorsement income of more than 10 million dollars a year, he's just opened his own private practice range near Tokyo.

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