Faldo has a major decision to make

As we head into July and the hot summer months we can take solace at the prospect of having three of the world’s premium golfing showpieces about to unravel in front of our very eyes. With the exception of the final event of the threesome (The Ryder Cup) most would have said a couple of weeks ago that they were foregone conclusions, that was of course until Mr. Woods’ decision to go back under the knife on his troublesome knee.

The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale followed by The USPGA Championship at Oakland Hills in August and of course, the Ryder Cup in September – who could possibly miss the titanic battle that will no doubt have millions of golf and sport enthusiasts glued to their screens over the best team event in the game!

As 19th hole gossip columns and golf blogs all over the world prepare to keep the surfers content, the question I raise is ‘what will be the biggest debate to grip the golfing public this summer?’ It’s hard to believe that a major championship can be discussed without Tiger’s name being mentioned, so will it be ‘the perceived public and media validity of a major triumph without the best golfer in the universe competing?’ Surely not!

Nope, I have a better one! Even for the Americans reading this and around the world, there could surely be no other hotter topic than ‘will Faldo pick Monty if he fails to qualify automatically?’ Now there is a question to provide some food for thought! The strained relationship between these two British golfing greats has been well documented over the years.

Some say the stormy relationship was born from a clash of personalities, some say it’s their intense competitive spirit or just a series of petty remarks. Whatever the real reason we may never know, but in my opinion for the good of the game (and sportsmanship worldwide) and for our faint British hearts, what better opportunity does Faldo have of burying the hatchet than to pick Monty for his trip over the pond? Let’s face it, Colin Montgomerie has been one of the most outstanding Ryder Cup players of all time, never having been beaten in eight of his singles matches and ironically enough he is only 1.5 points behind Faldo for being the most decorated European Ryder Cup Player of all time.

Monty’s second place at the French Open last week has set him on the road to qualifying automatically but a part of me hopes he won’t, just to see Nick pick him up and plonk him in the laps of the Americans — not being biased at all but come on the boys in blue!