Monty: Faldo is wrong to leave out Clarke

Colin Montgomerie today joined the outcry over Darren Clarke's surprise omission from the European Ryder Cup team, as captain Nick Faldo defended his decision.

Faldo caused controversy by ignoring the claims of an in-form Clarke to draft in Ian Poulter alongside Paul Casey, even though the former has been out of sorts since he finished runner-up at the Open Championship in July.

Montgomerie, speaking for the first time since he and Clarke were told they would not be playing in Kentucky, said: "Having won twice this year, and in a very pressurised situation in Holland last week, I felt Darren was in pole position for a pick."

It seemed that Clarke, the 40-year-old Ulsterman who proved such an inspiration at the K Club two summers ago when he claimed three wins from three matches so soon after the death of his wife, had satisfied Faldo's criteria that form was the prime requirement for a pick.

But Casey won Faldo's vote with four top-10 finishes in his last seven tournaments.

However, Faldo refused to write off Clarke's chances. "Darren's on the road back," he said. "I watched him playing in Holland. It was very impressive but I have to make a call. Some will agree, some will disagree. I'm the guy who has to live with it."

As for his own omission, Montgomerie admitted that his form had not been good enough to earn a ninth successive appearance but he insisted his Ryder Cup career was not over.