THERE are few bigger or better sporting spectacles than the Ryder Cup. Played over three days, this is a rare occasion when two continents go head-to-head in team play rather than the every man for himself format normally associated with the professional golfing circuit.

Is the Olympics bigger? Or the World Cup? Possibly.

But this is when the English fraternity become gripped and are just as celebratory if men from other European countries succeed in winning matches.

When team Europe captain Bernhard Langer pondered his selections for Oakland Hills, 11 men picked themselves. The continent's ten top performers in the Order of Merit were automatically included while the other not to be overlooked was Colin Montgomerie.

The Scot may have been one of the German's two wild-card call-ups - along with Luke Donald - but his place was never really in any doubt.

Never beaten in a singles match as he enters his seventh appearance in golf's showpiece, Montgomerie is Europe's colossus in the Ryder Cup.

The 41-year-old's patience will be tested once again at Oakland over the next few days when he will come face to face with his old foes, the United States public.

Five years ago, the last time the competition was held on the other side of the Atlantic, there were disgraceful scenes as Montgomerie and his family received a rough ride from the American boo-boys at Brookline.

This time it will be a little different. There will be no Eimear, the wife he divorced a week ago, who was spat at in Boston and there will be no alcohol-fuelled supporters around the greens, after a ban was introduced in a bid to stamp out the rowdiness on the course.

Will it all help Monty?

Only time will tell, but the rest of his teammates will be looking in his direction for encouragement, support and the wealth of experience he can draw on from being in three successful Ryder Cup sides.

The last of which was two years ago at The Belfry, when Sam Torrance's charges proved that team spirit is the key and it will be again if Europe are going to retain one of the world's most distinguished sporting trophies.

Langer's opposite number, Hal Sutton, could call on the great Davis Love III, the greater Phil Mickelson or the even greater Tiger Woods.

But a tendency in the United States camp to bicker and lock themselves away in their hotel rooms could once again prove to be the hosts' downfall.

There is also question marks about the state of mind of Woods. His game is in decline, having been dethroned as world No 1 by Vijay Singh a fortnight ago, while his private life is not exactly ideal.

He has recently called off his engagement to Norwegian girlfriend Elin Nordegren and his father, Earl, has suffered a recurrence of prostate cancer.

There is no doubting that in an ordinary PGA or European Tour event, the Americans, man for man, would finish higher than their European counterparts.

But this is no ordinary singles event.

And Langer's team go into the 35th Ryder Cup in buoyant mood. None more so than Padraig Harrington. The Irishman is the only European in the world top ten and his success in the German Masters last weekend could not have come at a better time.

Harrington also has experience of the big event behind him, having played at Brookline and The Belfry.

He was little more than a rookie then but now, at 33, a lot is expected of him and he is only one of two men - the other being Montgomerie - to have won a Ryder Cup singles match.

There is a worry surrounding the fitness of a shoulder strain he continues to be troubled by. But if he could play through the pain barrier and succeed last weekend there is no reason to doubt him now.

As well as the outstanding, there will also be the outlandish on show.

Ian Poulter, another of Europe's debutants, has been known for his flamboyant clothing on the tee as much as his ability on the fairways.

But Poulter has been told that he will have to adhere to a strict dress code in Detroit and he is ready to stick to it.

And he claims he will be happy to wear a paper bag over his head so long as he keep his place in the team. The problem is he might just do that.

However, the 28-year-old does have a serious side to his nature and the incredible self-belief he holds, plus the fact he is ready to try every trick in the book to ruffle his opponents, could be important to the European cause.

Poulter is one of five Ryder Cup rookies in Langer's team - along with Donald, David Howell, Paul Casey and Thomas Levet - and although none of the Europeans have won a major there is genuine belief that the 12-man team is one of the finest in decades.

Over 120,000 spectators are expected at Oakland Hills while more than 180million in 77 countries will watch the action unfold on television.

It is not the time for Monty et al to duck for cover, it's time for them to show the world they are more than a match for America's golfing might.

Published: 17/09/2004