NEWPORT, Wales (PA) -- Colin Montgomerie said he will be expecting candidates for his European Ryder Cup team to include the Celtic Manor Wales Open on their schedules next year.

Miguel Angel Jimenez is the only member of last year's side in the field at Celtic Manor this week -- and this only a month after Montgomerie stressed the importance of gaining as much knowledge of the course as possible.

"All I can do is ask. I can't insist," said Europe's captain at a joint press conference with opposite number Corey Pavin, who is over from America to take his first look at the venue.

"I am sure I will get a number to say 'yes' and I would expect those potential Ryder Cup players to be playing."

Europe have not been beaten at home since 1993 and the three courses that have staged matches since then -- Valderrama, The Belfry and The K Club -- had all staged a number of European Tour events beforehand.

Celtic Manor hosts the Wales Open for the 10th time this week, but only last year was the switch made to the Twenty Ten Course on which the Americans will defend the trophy next year.

Montgomerie had said previously: "I would like all the potential members of the team to play Wales this or next year.

"I think it is very important. The more you play a course the more you know it. We had an advantage in Valderrama and it was good to use that advantage," he added. "We had been playing the Volvo Masters at that course for 10 years and the Americans only played it for three days."

Montgomerie also gave the broadest possible hint this afternoon that Paul McGinley and Thomas Bjorn will be two of his assistants -- if, like his first choice Jose Maria Olazabal, they do not qualify for the team.

Pavin plans four vice-captains, but is not expected to reveal their identities until next year.

Robert Karlsson, Oliver Wilson and Soren Hansen -- a quarter of last year's side -- had entered for this week, but all withdrew on Monday. Wilson and Hansen both cited bad backs and Karlsson, runner-up to Australian Scott Strange a year ago, has an inner ear infection.

Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen then followed them out, leaving only three of the current top 50 in the world -- Ross Fisher, Jeev Milkha Singh and Jimenez, who last year played the first 11 holes in eight over par and was joint last before withdrawing with a knee injury.