The man likely to provide the backbone to Europe's defence of the Ryder Cup at Brookline, Boston, in two year's time has come up with an intriguing theory for consideration by the PGA European Tour.

Colin Montgomerie, who was recently bestowed with honorary life membership of the tour in recognition of his fifth straight Order of Merit victory, suggests there is no need to name a captain until a few weeks before the encounter with the United States.

Europe's top golfer reckons that to postpone the decision is the only way to secure the best man for the job. After steering Europe to victory at Valderrama, outgoing captain Seve Ballesteros felt that Bernhard Langer was an obvious choice to take on the mantle. But, now, the Spaniard acknowledges: "That's not going to happen. I know Bernhard wants to play, and I don't have anyone else in mind. All I know is that it is not possible to be a player and captain. As soon as I started getting involved with the team, the protocol and everything, I realised it wasn't possible for anyone to do both things."

Originally, the European Tour had hoped to name a successor to Ballesteros this month, but they have deferred picking a captain until the New Year. But Montgomerie doesn't believe the officials should be rushed or pushed into naming the captain to lead the defence of the trophy in 1999.

"There's no reason why we shouldn't delay the decision for months," said Montgomerie, whose singles half-point against Scott Hoch secured the Cup at Valderrama three months ago. "We don't need a captain until the event starts. Why do we need one during the qualification system? He won't tell us what to do at that stage. There is no rush.

"We don't have the likes of a Hale Irwin, a Ben Crenshaw or Tom Kite. The Americans have a choice of 10 or 12 of that type of character.

"And while Sam Torrance and Mark James spring to mind, they want to play. It's a terrible thing to take the captaincy and possibly accept that means you're finished as a player. You could tell it hurt Seve Ballesteros. He still wanted to play."

Montgomerie, whose wife, Eimear, is expecting their third child in May, wants a system where the likes of Torrance and James could try to qualify as a player, but, if they didn't, could then take on the reins of the captaincy.

Montgomerie sees himself taking on the role in around eight years, but could have a rival for the captaincy when Ireland stages the event in 2005 in the form of Ian Woosnam.

The Welshman was also part of the successful side at Valderrama, but was highly critical of Ballesteros.

"To win any Ryder Cup is an unforgettable experience," said Woosnam. "I believe I still have a lot to offer as a player, but would love to captain the Europeans in the future, ideally in Ireland in 2005."

A more immediate aim for Montgomerie, meanwhile, is to lose his tag as the "best golfer never to win a Major".

And at 34, the Scot maintains he has finally come to terms with his reputation as the man with the shortest fuse in golf.

"I'm learning the hard way that nobody has played the perfect game of golf yet and know I never will," said Montgomerie, who will divide his time almost equally between the European and US tours next year.

"Nowadays, if I miss a putt, I miss one. We're all human and I know I can possibly win a major with 90 per cent of my game. Players have won majors making mistakes. I can three-putt a green and win a major. I almost have done.

"I used to get upset with myself, as I knew I could do better. I just have to accept the bad with the good, and I am doing so as I get older."

The lure of the US Seniors' Tour, where Hale Irwin won over $2 million in prize money this season, has proven irresistible for Spain's Jose-Maria Canizares. The former Ryder Cup player won his card for 1998 at the seniors' qualifying school in Sawgrass, where rounds of 70, 71, 70, 69 for 280 gave him second position behind David Lundstrom.

Lundstrom turned 50 last May and played five tournaments on the mini-tour in Texas in preparation for the qualifying school. "It turned out this week my game was ready," he said.

Lundstrom plans to play "quite a lot" in 1998, and he has reason to believe there will be more opportunities for success than when he competed regularly on the US Tour. "My game is a little better now," he said. "And there is the maturity factor. I don't let bad shots bother me as much."

Lundstrom, Canizares, Billy King, Buzz Thomas, Kurt Cox, Joe Inmna Jnr, Mike McCullough and Fred Gibson earned full exemptions for next season.