Ryder Cup Betting / Ralph Ellis / 29 September 2009 /

Ralph Ellis might jump at the chance but America's two most iconic golfers aren't too keen to play at Celtic Manor. But would this actually enhance Europe's Ryder Cup prospects next autumn?

I got one of those great invitations yesterday. "Would you like to join our team for a golf day at Celtic Manor?" Safe to say I didn't need as much as two seconds to think about it.

I mean, a free day out, the weather's beautiful at the end of September, a chance to pit your wits against a fabulous golf course and hopefully pick up a prize as part of a friendly team. Why wouldn't you say 'yes'?

Then I looked at this morning's Daily Mail and realised that while I couldn't find a reason not to accept the chance of a free game of golf at Celtic Manor, there are others who could - Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, to be exact.

The Mail's golf writer Derek Lawrenson has raised the intriguing thought that the United States might come to the Ryder Cup in a year's time without their two most iconic players. The two have just cleaned up the big money at the end of the US Tour season, as followers of The Punter's picks on betting.betfair will know only too well.

Mickelson won the final event in Atlanta, while Woods' second place was enough to confirm him as top dog in the FedEx Cup play-off series and give him a £6.3million bonus prize to add to his existing fortune.

If that happens this time next year, will both of them want to get straight on a plane and fly to Wales to play five times in three days? The schedule will give them six 72 hole tournaments in eight weeks, and then ask them to jet across the world for an event that both have clearly considered an inconvenience in the past. In 2002, for instance, Woods won a million dollar prize on the eve of the Ryder Cup and declared there were "a million reasons I'd rather win this event." How much more compelling will 10 million dollars be?

Would it take something from their team? Now that's a different matter. The two have often seemed unwilling contestants, even though Woods' Ryder Cup record in terms of points won stands comparison with anybody. But when Tiger missed out through injury at Valhalla the Americans were far more of a team as they recorded their thumping five point victory. Mickelson, incidentally, lost his singles to Justin Rose.

Europe are currently [1.88] favourites to regain the crown, all the more so because of the young players who are blossoming, like Chris Wood who did so well in the Vivendi trophy. But I still think that's a lay because I worry about Colin Montgomerie's captaincy. Why does he want to perpetuate his feud with Ian Poulter? And I worry all the more after reading that he'd put himself on a weight loss programme, not to get fitter to improve his own game, but to be sure he'll look good in the official Ryder Cup photos. It was all about the captain for Nick Faldo, and you fear Monty is making exactly the same mistakes.

The thought that Woods and Mickelson won't turn up is still a troubling one for the Ryder Cup, which we look forward to as the Main Event of the golf calendar. The absence of the two great marquee names of the American team would take something away from the spectacle.

And don't believe it won't happen. My idea of playing Celtic Manor for free, and theirs when it means they don't get paid, are at opposite ends of the spectrum.

Five things you might not know about Chris Wood

1. Born in Nailsea near Bristol in November 1987, he was nine when he first played golf and had a single figure handicap within three years.

2. He was a promising striker in Bristol City's academy, but had to give up football because of a serious knee injury

3. Standing 6ft 5ins tall means his clubs - he uses TaylorMade woods and Titleist irons - are all custom made an inch longer than standard

4. He planned to remain an amateur after his breakthrough performance in the 2008 Open, until Darren Clarke convinced him he'd improve quicker by turning pro

5. He loves cars and the highlight of his year, off the course, was driving a 200mph Mercedes super car when they sponsored an event in Cologne. His own is a big less flash, a VW Golf TDi.

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