Montgomerie: I would be honored to lead Europe

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ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Colin Montgomerie, one of the most successful Ryder Cup players of all time, said he would be honored to be asked to captain the European team in 2010.

Montgomerie

The Scot, whose world ranking has fallen to No. 127, won 20 matches with 9 defeats and 7 halves to tally 23.5 points as a player in the biennial series between Europe and the United States. He is 1.5 points behind the record of 2008 European captain Nick Faldo.

The European Players Committee met this week to discuss who will lead the team in two years at Celtic Manor in Wales, and Montgomerie has emerged as the favorite among the bookmakers ahead of Sandy Lyle of Scotland.

Corey Pavin was appointed U.S. captain for 2010 last November.

The 45-year-old Montgomerie said he is yet to be offered the role, but that there will be another meeting next Wednesday in Dubai during the Desert Classic.

"It would be an honor to be to be selected, but we are no further forward with that selection process as we left the meeting last Tuesday," Montgomerie said at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. "You'll know more as we leave the meeting on Wednesday, I believe.

"I'll have to let you know on Wednesday if the captaincy has been offered or not. But at this stage, it hasn't. So I know as much as you guys do."

Montgomerie had previously indicated he is only interested in the captaincy when the tournament is held at Gleneagles in Scotland in 2014. And he said Friday that not much has changed.

"It hasn't changed to that degree. I don't know why there's betting. I don't look at the bets -- I'm not a betting man. I don't know where this has come from. I have no idea," Montgomerie said.

Paul Azinger captained the U.S. as it ended a decade of European dominance at the Ryder Cup with a 16 1/2-11 1/2 victory last September at Valhalla, and Montgomerie said it was imperative that Europe chose the right man for the job.

"I think it is very important to get the right guy for this particular role to win back the Ryder Cup, because we felt that we had the strongest team last time and didn't win," he said. "The Americans have had that initiative before and had not won, and we found ourselves in their position last time and it's very important to win it back, especially at so-called home, if you like."

But would he rather play the 2010 Ryder Cup as a player or as captain?

"Having played in eight Ryder Cups, it doesn't really affect what or how I would help the European cause one way or another," Montgomerie said. "I would like to help the European cause in any way, shape or form."