Near the rough of Gleneagles, trouble lurks. Over the years, there have been a number of reported sightings of a big cat prowling Perthshire. Some of the locals claim to have spotted pumas, black leopards and lynxes in the wild country that swirls around the elegant, Jack Nicklaus- designed fairways. Big cats have been blamed for the slaying of sheep, cows and deers, but never the death of a Ryder Cup hope.
At this week's Johnnie Walker Championship in Scotland, a number of golf's fat cats realise there is no room for half measures. In reference to their Ryder Cup ambitions, some of these sturdy men will perish in their golf shoes. Six players will compete for three qualifying places, but six into three does not go. Kill or be killed, no questions asked. Justin Rose, Soren Hansen and Oliver Wilson hold the three final automatic berths, but Martin Kaymer, Ross Fisher and Nick Dougherty can rip the team blazer off their backs by winning in Scotland.
So too can Colin Montgomerie. Montgomerie is one of the game's bigger beasts, and yesterday he appeared to be in a catty mood when Ian Poulter's dilemma was raised. After finishing second behind Padraig Harrington at the Open last month, Poulter seemed to return to Nick Faldo's side for the match against the US at Valhalla on Sept 19-21. Now his slot looks uncertain. Poulter is playing in Boston this week to complete the 15 events required for membership of the US Tour. Montgomerie is struggling to see the wisdom in his decision.
"He seems to have been on a hotline to Nick for a while," said Montgomerie. "But it would have been nice for him to have played here." The Scot has the advantage of home soil, and a track he knows well. He also knows he will probably have to carry off this event to make himself a valid candidate to play in a ninth successive Cup. Paul Casey, Darren Clarke, who won the KLM Open in Holland last week, and Poulter appear to be his natural enemies for selection as one of two captain's picks after the final round on Sunday.
"I have no idea how [Faldo] feels I have to perform this week, but hopefully I'm past the stage of justifying my Ryder Cup potential," commented Montgomerie. "My game two weeks ago was poor in America and I took a couple of weeks off, the second week I've been practising up here at Gleneagles every day. "I feel very confident now in trying to win this event. "But I'm going to have to be slightly more aggressive to win here than is normal."
Harrington, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Graeme McDowell are in the team. They may be past the point of worrying, but for the discerning Monty and his flashing blades the concern is only too real. dkane@thenational.ae