Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles

Aug 24 2010 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

COLIN Montgomerie had been hoping all his Ryder Cup hopefuls would report for duty at Gleneagles this week for the £1.4 million Johnnie Walker Championship, reports Gordon Bannerman.

But the team captain for the autumn’s Celtic Manor clash with the USA, and, before that, tournament chairman for an event rolling-out near his Big County home over the next few days, has seen his plans scuppered by leading lights again opting to chase the dollars on offer in America rather than cement their case for inclusion in his team for Wales.

Last time round, Ian Poulter was at the centre of controversy as captain Nick Faldo weighed-up his wild card picks for an unsuccessful Ryder Cup bid. Poulter remained in the USA and risked exclusion rather than appearing at the European Tour event in Perthshire, which is again the final chance to qualify automatically for a Ryder Cup team.

Montgomerie has been tasked with wrestling the trophy back from the Americans. And he has serious thinking to do before Sunday’s line-up is announced in the media marquee beside the PGA Centenary Course.

Despite previous words of warning that it would be in the best interests of contenders lacking automatic selection status to stake claims at Gleneagles, big hitters Paul Casey, two times Open champion Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald and Justin Rose have all opted for the start of the lucrative Fedex Cup series as Montgomerie prepares to announce his 10-man team.

Inevitably, the Ryder Cup will overshadow the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, at a venue which hosts the big event itself in 2014.

The action starts on Thursday, with a pro-am event teed-up tomorrow.

Former Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance has accepted an invitation to play, taking the number of Scottish golfers challenging for the title to 23 in a 156-man field.

Home contenders for the title include Monty, 2007 champion Marc Warren, the only Scot to have won the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, a revitalised Stephen Gallacher, who played well in the US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits and tied fourth in The Barclays Scottish Open in July, and Richie Ramsay, who won his first Tour title in South Africa earlier this season.

But there will be stiff international competition for the Scots. Joining the 2008 and 2009 champions, Grégory Havret and Peter Hedblom, are no fewer than 91 players with wins on The European Tour. America’s Todd Hamilton, the 2004 Open champion, has also arrived in Scotland.

Torrance said: “I love playing in front of my home fans and was thrilled to be invited to play by the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. With The Ryder Cup in mind, I’m also looking forward to being around when Monty’s team takes shape and will certainly be available if he wants to chat about anything during the week.”

This year’s winner will receive £233,330 from the total prize fund of £1.4 million.

Tickets for the Johnnie Walker Championship are priced from £22 for a daily ticket to £45 for a season ticket and are available at the gate. Car parking is free. For full details visit www.europeantourtickets.com