Harrington, Donald and Molinari are in as wild cards on European team

Colin Montgomerie selected Luke Donald, Padraig Harrington and Edoardo Molinari, Aug. 29, as his three Captain’s selections to complete the 2010 European Ryder Cup Team. The trio join Ross Fisher, Peter Hanson, Miguel Angel Jiménez, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy, Francesco Molinari, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood in a European Team which will head to The Celtic Manor Resort near Newport, Wales, Oct. 1-3, aiming to regain The Ryder Cup and win for the fourth time in five matches. After announcing his wild card selections following the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, Scotland, Montgomerie also pulled off a master stroke when he revealed that Sergio Garcia would become a vice captain, joining Thomas Björn, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley in an experienced back room set-up. Montgomerie’s team features six rookies, six experienced campaigners and now two brothers, Edoardo and Francesco Molinari, the first brothers to play in the same Ryder Cup since Bernhard and Geoffrey Hunt competed for Great Britain in 1963 at East Lake Country Club in Atlanta. Regarding his three selections, Montgomerie added, "Padraig Harrington has won three major championships in the last three years...the stature of Padraig...he is someone we feel that nobody in match play golf wants to play. He is a great competitor and someone that will bring everything to the Team that we know about European golf. "In Luke Donald, we have someone that can compete in foursomes and in four-ball golf; he's played in seven Ryder Cup matches and has only lost in one particular game. "And Edoardo Molinari, what can one say about his performance today (when he birdied the final three holes to win the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles – the final point event). In my time on the European Tour, over 24 years, I don't think I've seen a finish of that quality under such pressure by anyone, ever. And all credit goes to him for having to come here, having to win, doing so, and joining his brother. “I said at the start of this campaign that we will have a fabulously 12 strong team, and I think you see the team there, as it stands, and I think you'll all agree how strong it is.” U.S. Captain Corey Pavin added his observations of Montgomerie’s three selections. "I am sure the picks that Colin made today were made with great thought and much difficulty,” said Pavin. “Padraig, Edoardo and Luke are excellent choices to strengthen an already-strong European Team." Tickets to the 38th Ryder Cup, featuring both match days and practice rounds, are still available through www.rydercup.com/tickets. Pavin will complete the 2010 U.S. Team with four Captain selections, Sept. 7, at a news conference in New York City.