Monty gets behind McGinley

Last updated: 16th January 2013

Colin Montgomerie has thrown his full weight behind new Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley after he missed out on the job.

After weeks of speculation, the European Tour tournament committee on Tuesday confirmed the 46-year-old McGinley as captain for the 2014 tournament at Gleneagles.

Besides Montgomerie, his fellow Scots Paul Lawrie, Sandy Lyle and Miguel Angel Jimenez from Spain were also in the running, but the job went to the Irishman in the end.

Although Montgomerie, who captained Europe during their 2010 victory over the United States at Celtic Manor, admits he would've loved to skipper the team at home, he believes McGinley is the right man.

"I'm not at all disappointed - it would have been a dream come true, but it has not happened," he said.

"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.

"We all get behind Paul now and wish him well. 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."

McGinley was also full of praise for Montgomerie after his appointment.

"He was the first man I saw, he came up and congratulated me warmly and wished me the very best of luck," he said on Radio 5 Live. "He was very, very gracious to me."

He added: "Monty has been a great captain and a great stalwart of Ryder Cups. I have played in three Ryder cups with Monty, everybody knows what the Ryder Cup means to him and how he has carried the Ryder Cup, not just as a player, but how he spoke at the meetings and the air of authority he had around it."