Monty gets three Ryder Cup picks

European Ryder Cup skipper Colin Montgomerie will have an extra wild card pick when he attempts to find a side to win back the trophy at Celtic Manor next year.

The Scot got wanted three picks instead of two and got the decision he wanted after a marathon three-hour meeting of the Tournament Players Committee at Irish Open venue Baltray.

Colin Montgomerie is strapped in for the Ryder Cup The committee has decided to reduce the number of players qualifying automatically from the Ryder Cup World Points List from five to four.

Five players will still qualify from the European Points List but Montgomerie believes he will have a stronger side to take on Corey Pavin's United States 12-man team with three wild cards instead of two.

Montgomerie said: "We want to have the strongest team possible and that's what we are trying to achieve and hopefully we have put one foot towards that tonight.

"I am leaving the meeting delighted that I have one more option. It is a stronger hand picked team but it is a stronger tour as well.

"This European Tour is gaining in strength in strength all the time and we have stronger players in depth than ever before but I am leaving this meeting very confident and very happy that I have got what I was looking for, which was one more option and that is what I have right now."

Committee member Paul McGinley would not reveal if a vote had been taken.

He said: "It was a great meeting with a lot of strong personalities.  There were a lot of current and past Ryder Cup players there and I think the right decision was made."

The European Tour issued the following statement after the meeting:

"After discussion with Europe’s 2010 Captain, Colin Montgomerie, it was decided that the leading four players from The Ryder Cup World Points List would be joined by the leading five players, not otherwise qualified (having selected the four players from The Ryder Cup World Points List) from The Ryder Cup European Points List in automatically qualifying for Europe’s 2010 Ryder Cup Team at the end of the qualification period.

"Those nine players will then be joined by three Captain’s Picks to make up the 12-man Team to take on the USA over The Twenty Ten Course at The Celtic Manor Resort, City of Newport, Wales, from October 1-3, 2010."