COLIN Montgomerie believes Tiger Woods’ presence would make it ‘‘a better win’’ for Europe if his team regain the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor next year.

Woods, who missed the USA’s comprehensive 2008 victory in Kentucky after undergoing knee surgery, is critical about American hopes of retaining the trophy.

Woods, winner of 14 Majors, displayed ominous form during the weekend’s Presidents Cup event in San Francisco.

He forged a prodigious partnership with Steve Stricker, posting a perfect five-from-five points return as the USA toppled an International team 19.5-14.5.

The Americans have not tasted Ryder Cup success on British or Irish soil for 16 years.

But Europe captain Montgomerie knows Woods could potentially have a bigger say than any other player towards ending that sequence when the 38th Ryder Cup is contested in Wales from October 1-3 next year.

‘‘It will be difficult enough to try to regain the Ryder Cup without Tiger Woods, never mind if he is back to his top form and winning five points out of five,’’ said Montgomerie.

‘‘It makes our job even tougher, so we have to counteract that by playing as well as we can against him and also the other 11 players on that team. But I think it makes it a better win if we can regain the Ryder Cup with Tiger Woods on it.’’ Montgomerie, a veteran of eight Cup campaigns, hopes that as many of his prospective team will familiarise themselves with Celtic Manor by playing in next summer’s Wales Open.

He will email players to that effect – encouraging them to enter the Wales Open, an event that several of his star names will not have featured in before.

Montgomerie also revealed he would like Welsh representation – either in his team or among the all-important support staff.

‘‘If I don’t have a Welsh representative on the course playing, I would like to have some sort of Welsh help in the background,’’ he said.

‘‘I think it is good for everybody; the fact that, what, 65- 70per cent of the spectators here will be Welsh.’’