European wild cards

Luke Donald

Edoardo Molinari

Padraig Harrington

Perhaps one of the most scrutinised decisions made by Monty, as European captain,  his picks were also always going to be the most controversial. Followers of football will know that one of the things that set Fergie apart from his peers was his ability to best use his resources (well that, and good discipline, tactical flexibility, to be able to engender a sense of loyalty and make over-payed pampered millionaires want to play for him, also helped make him the pre-eminent manager of our times; sorryJose but you aren't there yet) and Monty has certainly had plenty to choose from.
Rather predictably there have been grumblings of discontent; that Monty favoured his mates (Harrington basically); that he bottled it and was to scared to say no to a 3 time major winner ( Harrington again); or that Monty just wanted to be the story. This last one I find hard to argue with. Monty has never been backward at putting himself forward, unless of course there is a kiss-and-tell story of an ALLEGEDLY particularly fruity nature in the works in which case it's injunctions all round.
The player it seems everybody wanted included was Paul Casey and the captain's justification for overlooking him were uncharacteristically vague.  But , in this at least , our hero has got it right. Three times this season Casey has found himself in contention going into the final round and three times the charge.......... has never materialised. He in danger of making Westwood appear a closer in comparison. the total failure to exert any pressure upon Louis Oosthuizen in the final round of the Open was, when seen contextually,  quite dreadful. Casey can have no complaints.
No, my argument with Monty over his picks was not that he threw caution to the wind and recklessly discarded top talent but that he was too cautious. Molinari simply could not be denied following his heroics at Gleneagles and I am certain Team USA would not have fancied playing the longest driver and best putters in the business