• Ryder Cup

Montgomerie: The Americans will target McIlroy

Colin Montgomerie says the American players will all want to take on world No.1 Rory McIlroy at this week's Ryder Cup - much like the European's did with Tiger Woods.

Montgomerie, who captained Europe to glory at Celtic Manor four years ago, believes current skipper Paul McGinley should "hide him away" to avoid any psychological damage in the team.

"When we did draw Tiger Woods, we would say: 'Game on. I've got a chance here. If he beats me then he's supposed to, if he doesn't well what a day for me, what a day for the team'," explained Montgomerie, an eight-time player at the Ryder Cup.

"A lot of pressure is on Rory's shoulders. He's the one player that America wants to play, because they've nothing to lose.

'I dreamed of pulling on the red of United'

Rory McIlroy was at Gleneagles on Sunday getting some early practice in © Getty Images

• While being a four-time major champion, two-time Ryder Cup winner and world No.1 might be decent consolation, Rory McIlroy says his childhood dream was to play for Manchester United.M
• And while McIlroy is pleased with his choices, he revealed there were times when his sporting ambition lay elsewhere.
• "Every little boy has a dream of being a professional footballer," he said during an appearance on Sky Sports' Goals on Sunday. "I definitely imagined myself in the back garden scoring a goal for Manchester United.
• "I'm right-footed but I like to play on the left wing and cut in. I've got a bit of speed."
• On Manchester United's poor start to the season under new manager Louis van Gaal, McIlroy added: "It's been tough but hopefully there's better things to come.
• "There were some really positive signs in that game against QPR and getting some of the players back who have been injured.
• "Luke Shaw I think will make a big difference when he comes back."

"When Tiger Woods lost a game, it was more than a point that the Americans lost. I think that Rory has that now in that every American wants to play him, and isn't that a fantastic position to be in.

"It will be a huge temptation to hide him away.

"Rory is important. If the rest of the team see Rory winning well it gives them confidence, but if the team see Rory losing out there in one of the first groups, it's quite difficult to think, 'Okay lads, come on then, we've got to pick up the pieces'.

"You don't want your No.1 guy to be out there, in the lead in the limelight, and might well come up against a good one and not win."

Montgomerie, a pundit for Sky Sports throughout the tournament, said the Americans will look to avoid Ian Poulter - who has won 11 of the last 12 Ryder Cup points he has competed for.

"Ian Poulter has a street fighter mentality and that's a real compliment when it comes to the Ryder Cup," Montgomerie added.

"Seve was a street fighter too, and Corey Pavin. It takes a certain character to be a great Ryder Cup player and Poulter has that character.

"I don't think the Americans would want to be paired up against him."

Montgomerie, meanwhile, was cautious not to write off Tom Watson's young team. When asked if it was the worst American team in recent years, he replied: "On paper, possibly.

"But the Ryder Cup is not played on paper. On any given day any American can beat any European. The people we've not heard of, the Patrick Reeds, the Jimmy Walkers of this world, they can play, believe me.

"The names don't resound the way the 1981 team did, with the likes of Watson, Nicklaus, Crenshaw and Kite, but they might do in the future."

Montgomerie singled out veteran Phil Mickelson - playing his 10th straight Ryder Cup since making his debut in 1995.

"He is their leader still, he is the one who will be street fighting his way through," Montgomerie added.

"He may not be hitting greens but my God he can get it up and down and hole some putts.

"He's the one that's got to lead that American team forward this time around, and Tom Watson will be hoping he brings a game that can do that.

"The tide is turning away from Woods and Mickelson to Rory and Adam Scott, but not yet. Mickelson knows that and wants to stop talk of it. He'll be right up for this."

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