Rory Could Clean Sweep 2015 - Monty

Former Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie believes it would be "worth a punt" on Rory McIlroy winning six majors in a row by completing a 2015 clean sweep.

The Co down native won the final two major championships of 2014 with victory at the Open in July and the US PGA Championship the following month.

Montgomerie, who captained a European team featuring McIlroy to Ryder Cup glory at Celtic Manor in 2010, believes the 25-year-old can dominate the sport in a way not even Tiger Woods managed.

Speaking to social network site kicca.com, Montgomerie said:

"Can he win all four in a year, never mind two? That means six in a row. Wow, that'll be something.

"If you're a betting man, I'm sure there are a lot of people putting money on it, I'm sure it's a 100-1 shot but it's worth a punt. If I was a gambler, which I'm not, I'd put money on that; he's that dominant, and that good."

Montgomerie certainly believes McIlroy is capable of holding all four major titles at the same time by winning the opening two majors of 2015 - the Masters and the US Open.

"The 2015 majors are coming up with the first one, the Masters, in April. Rory McIlroy, having won the Open and the US PGA, he's going for three in a row and if he does that, the US Open will be a big event, to see if he can get that grand slam.

"If he does win the Masters, wow, that US Open will be a big, big, big do indeed."

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Monty Very Gracious - McGinley

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Colin Montgomerie is offering his support to new Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley after missing out on the post.

McGinley was picked to skipper the team at Gleneagles in 2014 at Tuesday's European Tour tournament committee meeting in Abu Dhabi.

Montgomerie, who led Europe to a 14.5-13.5 victory in Wales three years ago, was a late contender for the job.

He said: "We will all get behind Paul now and wish him well. I'm not at all disappointed."

The appointment of the experienced Tom Watson as USA captain for 2014 raised suggestions that Europe should name a similar heavyweight character to take charge of their team with Scot Montgomerie a leading candidate.

He was interested in taking on the role again because the Ryder Cup is being held in his homeland - and he led the side to victory in the 2010 event.

But there was support for McGinley from players like Rory McIlroy in the days leading up to the appointment.

"It would have been a dream come true, but it has not happened," said Montgomerie.

"I was very flattered even to be considered again - it meant a lot to me.

"The selection process was such that they appointed the best man for the job."

McGinley was captain of the GB and Ireland team when they beat Continental Europe in the Seve Trophy in 2009 and 2011.

Montgomerie added: "I appointed him for the Seve Trophy and he did a very good job - as he did twice as a vice-captain [in the Ryder Cup].

"He's a very good man-manager and very good at assessing people's strengths.

"I will be there to support and fly the flag for Europe."

“Monty has been a great captain and a great stalwart of Ryder Cups”Paul McGinley

McGinley told BBC Radio 5 live Montgomerie was "gracious" when the pair met after the decision had been made.

He said: "He was the first man I saw and he came up and congratulated me warmly and wished me the very best of luck.

"He was very gracious to me.

"Monty has been a great captain and a great stalwart of Ryder Cups.

"I've played in three Ryder Cups with Monty and everybody knows what it means to him and how he has carried the Ryder Cup.

"On three occasions he was monumental in that team room, not just the way he played on the course, but how he spoke at the meetings.

"He should be very proud of everything that he has done with the Ryder Cup."

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Padraig Says No 2014 Full Monty

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Padraig Harrington thinks it is very unlikely that Colin Montgomerie will return for a second stint as Ryder Cup captain.

The captain of the European team for the 2014 event will be selected at a players committee meeting during the Abu Dhabi Championship between January 17-20 and Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley are the favourites.

However, following the announcement of golfing legend Tom Watson as the captain of the United States team it has been suggested that Europe may need a captain of similar stature in terms of Ryder Cup achievements.

Montgomerie is one of Europe's all-time great Ryder Cup performers and also captained the team to a dramatic victory in the 2010 event.

Madness

However, asked if his former Cup team-mate might be tempted to lead the side again, Harrington said: "There's not a chance, after what he went through last time, that Colin would ever take the captaincy again.

"He puts so much more on the line than anybody else, it would be madness for him. He's had a great Ryder Cup playing career, he's been a successful captain - why risk all that?

"Most players who take the captaincy, whether they win or lose, it doesn't change people's perception of their overall career, but Monty's career is based on his eight order of merit wins and his Ryder Cup performances.

"By taking the captaincy he's putting far more on the line than anybody else, because it would be hard to mention that he's unbeaten in the singles in the competition but, oh, he's also a losing captain as well. That would take the shine off his great record."

Harrington, a member of six Ryder Cup teams himself, thinks his fellow-Irishman Paul McGinley should take charge at Gleneagles in Scotland in 2014.

"Everybody's talking about it on the European Tour," said Harrington. "My own personal opinion is that McGinley should take it this time and for Clarke to do it in the US.

"I think Darren would be a better captain in America because of his stature over there. McGinley would be a better option to go up against Watson.

"He can't match Watson in terms of his stature in the game - nobody can do that. The only way McGinley would tackle a Ryder Cup is to knuckle down and do his own business and organise things - he would be ideal for Gleneagles."

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