With only days to go before making his final choice, Europes Ryder Cup captain faces up to his most difficult decisionLike most good dramas the mystery of Europes 2010 Ryder Cup team will not be solved until the final scene, but for suspense junkies in need of sustenance until Sundays team announcement Colin Montgomerie was at his gnomic best today, sowing more confusion to an already confusing landscape."I have not made my mind up," declared Europes captain."Yes, I have an idea but that might well change, so Ive got to be flexible, declared Europes captain, two minutes after his previous declaration."I do have a preferred three in my head, but I am sure something will happen here that will change that," declared Europes captain, five minutes after that.It was ever thus when it comes to Montys musings, which over time have had all the consistency of a Scottish summer. Yet there is surely method, or a least an easily discernible logic, in his unpredictability as he contemplates what he has often described as the most difficult decision of his long career.The outcome of this weeks Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, which starts tomorrow, will take care of the first nine places on the Ryder Cup team that Montgomerie will lead against the United States at Celtic Manor in South Wales on 1-3 October. The tricky part comes with the final three places, which are in the gift of the captain.Unusually for a man in his position, Montgomerie has a wide range of choices from which to pick - Paul Casey, Luke Donald, Padraig Harrington, Edoardo Molinari, Justin Rose, Alvaro Quiros, Robert Karlsson, to name just seven players not yet in the team but who would be worthy additions.More predictably for a man in Montgomeries position, he has a vast range of opinions which he can listen to or, more likely, disregard. The practice green at Gleneagles today was awash with speculation and, in the case of the big-hitting Quiros, self-promotion. "I think you have Molinari, who is playing great and he would be a good partner with his brother. And you have me. I would have a good advantage in Wales, with the length [I hit the ball]. I would be a good team-mate," the likeable Spaniard said, before turning his attention to those conspicuous by their absence in Scotland.Casey, Donald, Rose and Harrington - the FedEx Four, as they have been dubbed - have chosen to play the first event of the PGA Tours play-offs this week at the Ridgewood club in Paramus, New Jersey, instead of coming here and trying to play their way on to Montgomeries team; a choice that has not met with universal approval among the rank and file of the European Tour.Quiros declined to add his voice to those of the critics, although he was noticeably cool when it came to assessing the prospects of absent colleagues. "I would pick one of the four," he said, sniffily.Unfortunately for the Spaniard, he is not picking the team and nor, barring an upset to match Andrew Coltarts selection by Mark James for the 1999 Ryder Cup team, will he be appearing at Celtic Manor. Montgomerie is a fan of Quiros and his big-hitting ways but, in as much as anything can be construed from his public musings, he is an even greater fan of those whose mettle has been tested at the highest level.Suffice to say, the widespread scorn directed towards the four candidates who have chosen to spend this week in New Jersey is not shared by Europes captain, though they all gave him a direct, and negative, answer when he asked them two weeks ago to come to Gleneagles. "I had to respect their decision," he said. "I am not in a position to tell anyone where they should and shouldnt play."Not only did Montgomerie accept the decision of Casey, Donald, Rose and Harrington, he appeared to rationalise it, suggesting their absence was not so much a snub to the European tour but a boon to the European teams chances of winning back a trophy lost by Nick Faldos squad in Kentucky two years ago."The situation of players not attending here has changed, in my opinion," he said. "Im glad that the players [in the US] that might well get selected are playing competitive golf. I think the American teams performance at Valhalla [in 2008] was boosted by the fact that they were playing competitive golf right up to the Ryder Cup. If it boosts their performance, it can boost our own."Five months ago, Montgomerie was insistent that an appearance at Gleneagles this week was all but mandatory for anyone still looking to find his favour. The Ryder Cup worm has turned, clearly, and in this rapid change of direction Montgomerie surely revealed that one decision has been made, even if the most decisive decision of all has not.The lucky three will come from the FedEx Four. But which of them will be the odd man out?I went though hell, says Tiger Woods former wife, main section, page 5 Colin MontgomerieRyder CupGolfPadraig HarringtonPaul Casey guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds