Colin Montgomerie names the player he thinks is the ‘best clutch putter’ on either team at the Ryder Cup this year

Add as preferred source on Google

So many of the most iconic moments in Ryder Cup history have unsurprisingly come on the greens.

Few will ever forget Bernhard Langer missing the putt to tie the War on the Shore at Kiawah Island, Justin Leonard’s long effort to confirm the comeback was complete at Brookline, or Martin Kaymer holing his putt on the last on Sunday at Medinah.

It always seems to be the case that the team which holes the most putts tends to end the week victorious.

So while Bethpage Black is a brute of a golf course, much will come down to whether it is Team USA or Europe who are more clinical on the greens.

Colin Montgomerie names the best clutch putter among the two Ryder Cup teams

Colin Montgomerie knows the feeling of holing a putt to win the Ryder Cup. It was the Scot who took Bernhard Langer’s men across the line at Oakland Hills in 2004.

He also sealed the half point in the anchor match in 1997 which took Seve Ballesteros‘ side to 14.5 points and ensured that they won the cup outright at Valderrama.

So few are better placed to pick the best clutch putter on either side for Bethpage.

And Montgomerie opted for Tyrrell Hatton, who he also labelled the most fiery character among the 24 players.

Colin Montgomerie also asked which player is most likely to bottle the first tee

Montgomerie also knows how intimidating the American crowds can be when the Ryder Cup comes around. The 62-year-old endured a torrid time at the 1999 event at The Country Club – resulting in Payne Stewart conceding Montgomerie’s putt on the final hole of their singles match, ensuring that the European won.

The occasion can get to many players. Mark Calcavecchia was left in tears at Kiawah Island in 1991 after halving his match with Montgomerie having been 4 up with four to play.

And in the same interview, Montgomerie was asked which player is most likely to bottle the first tee. He, perhaps wisely, did not single anyone out.

“One of the American rookies,” he said with a wry smile.

It is hard to imagine how daunting that first tee shot is. Tiger Woods told Bryson DeChambeau he was hitting first when they were paired together in Paris in 2018.

Meanwhile, Webb Simpson had a nightmare on the opening hole at Gleneagles four years earlier as he managed to sky his shot and barely made it to the fairway.

The Ryder Cup is often a place where magical things happen. But it is also the stage for some of the strangest occurrences at the highest level of the game.