Monty plays down McIlroy's Ryder Cup exhibition remark
By Norman Dabell
BALTRAY, Ireland (Reuters) - European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie refused to be drawn into a war of words with Rory McIlroy on Wednesday after the youngster called the biennial clash with the U.S. an "exhibition".
"The Ryder Cup, it's a great spectacle but an exhibition at the end of the day," the 20-year-old McIlroy told reporters on the eve of the Irish Open. "It's not that important an event for me."
The young Northern Irishman, 19th on the world rankings and likely to make his Ryder Cup debut in Wales next year, added: "Golf is an individual sport and my individual goals are to win tournaments for myself."
While Montgomerie disagreed with McIlroy, who he will partner in the first two rounds here, he played down the issue.
"Rory will understand when, and it's not an 'if', the pressures involved and the whole scenario of the Ryder Cup will hit him hard," said the Scot.
"The Ryder Cup is not an exhibition. But please don't say that Monty and Rory are having a war here.
"He's a great player, a very exciting player and one of Europe's best young talents. All I'm saying is the Ryder Cup is not an exhibition and never will be."
One Year Later
A year after militants laid siege to Mumbai, the country still remains very vulnerable. Full Article | Full Coverage
Liberhan Commission Report
The government published a long awaited report, recently leaked, accusing BJP leaders of a role in the 1992 destruction of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya. Full Article
