Monty calls for World Cup changes

By Brian Keogh

Colin Montgomerie has called for Ireland and Scotland to be made automatic starters in the World Cup.

The Scot, 43, will partner Marc Warren at Mission Hills in November as he's ranked inside the world's top 100 at No 42.

But Ireland have been forced to qualify as Open champion and world No 7 Padraig Harrington is not available.

And Monty believes that the system must be changed or golf's traditional powerhouses could be left out in the cold as competition hots up.

He said: "There will be no Irish team to worry about this year unless they qualify. And if I hadn’t played, there’d have been no Scots team to worry about.

"If they’re looking for stronger teams then they’ll have to think about ways of changing the qualification, because Ireland and Scotland shouldn’t be dependent on myself or Padraig’s schedule.

"To have only one player in the top 100 for Ireland and Scotland, makes you worry. We have to change that first. They should be pencilled in or in permanent ink, but they’re not.

"It just shows that the quality of world golf has caught up with the likes of ourselves, the home nations if you like, and in some cases, overtaken.

"It’s the same in football - there are no easy games in the World Cup and it’s harder for nations to qualify. No-one has a God-given right to, absolutely."