Montgomerie: has a goal

I want this season to end to be honest. It's been a very disappointing year for me playing-wise.

Colin Montgomerie
Quotes of the week

By his own admission it has been a disappointing season for Colin Montgomerie, but he insists his passion and hunger to play golf has not been dimmed.

Having failed to reach the Ryder Cup for the first time since 1989 or to win a single event on the European Tour this year, it has certainly not been a vintage season for one of Europe's most popular players.

Golf Night caught up with Monty at the Ecco Golf Day at Woking Golf Club to get his reaction to Europe's defeat at Valhalla, to hear his views on the hot topics on the European Tour and to discuss his approach to the upcoming 2009 season.

And the Scotsman was forthright on his plans to become Ryder Cup captain in Scotland in 2014, but to ensure he is at the next tournament at Celtic Manor in a playing capacity.

Monty on Valhalla

It was difficult, very difficult. It was the first time I didn't have any control over the score and I've always had some control over some part of the score somehow.

This time I didn't, it was left to others and unfortunately America just seemed to hole the putts at the right time.

For five out of the last six times over the last 12 years we've tended to hole the putts that counted and this year they did.

I know it's difficult to lose the Ryder Cup, but it makes the Ryder Cup bigger and better next time.

Monty on the next Ryder Cup captain

I think there's three names that spring to mind.

Sandy (Lyle) has put his hat in the ring and I've heard that Ian Woosnam would like it again. There's nothing to stop somebody from doing it twice.

It would be a shame if Sandy did miss out, being one of that five we had in Europe that didn't grab it, but Woosie in Wales, having won it so well in Ireland, why not?

I don't think (Jose Maria) Olazabal's ready and I don't think he wants it. I think he'll be ready in 2012 so it's really between Woosie and Sandy and it depends on who the committee decides.

I'll possibly be ready in 2014. I'll be 51 then and I live in Gleneagles now so it seems appropriate for me to do it in Scotland in 2014.

Monty on the Race for Dubai

I think raising the tournaments from 11 to 12 is a positive step for European players.

It means that the top European players who want to play in the race for Dubai and who want to play in that Dubai tournament have to play 11 tournaments before they get there instead of 10 and I think that's very important.

It gives sponsors in Europe an opportunity to say we're going to get the top Europeans to play at least one more week somewhere within the European continent.

It's all too easy right now I believe to play those seven tournaments, the world events plus the majors, away from Europe if you like. There's only one of them in Europe really, The British Open.

I think it's right that we have one more tournaments, remembering the Americans have 15 and we're still only at 12.

I'd welcome anybody to play. Competition makes the world go round and I think it's great if Phil Mickelson would commit to 12 tournaments in Europe it would be great to see him along with Vijay (Singh), Ernie (Els) and Adam Scott.

Why not have a world event in Dubai for that cash bonanza? It would be fantastic. Bring them on.

Monty on his future

I'm going to take December off and some of January, so six or seven weeks.

I'm on a bit of a weight-loss programme and I'm trying to get fit again to start again in January.

I want this season to end to be honest. It's been a very disappointing year for me playing-wise. My design business is going well but on the course I haven't really performed.

I want to get back to that. I'm not ready to stop this game. I've got a goal to make the Ryder Cup team again in 2010 and everything for the next two years is based around that, to get back in that team.