Poulter's fate in Faldo's hands

the Bridgestone and then a superb four-stroke winner of the KLM Open in Holland on Sunday.

As for Montgomerie, since his runner-up finish in the French Open at the end of June he has gone 24th, missed cut, 58th, 77th and missed cut - and in the last two of those he was right down near the rear of the field.

Yet Faldo knows perfectly well what the 45-year-old Scot has produced in eight Ryder Cups starting with his debut in 1991.

Harrington commented the day after his Open triumph: "I hope to tee up with Monty. He's a different man when it comes to the Ryder Cup and everyone wants to play with him in the foursomes and the fourballs."

"He's an obvious person to have leading the way. He comes up with his best golf when he's out first, whereas I'm one of those who play the same whether you send me out first, seventh or 12th."

"I can see myself taking over Monty's role at some point, but I'm only just getting out of the situation of feeling like a kid on the team."

Montgomerie - never beaten in singles and only two points away from taking over from Faldo as the event's record points-scorer - has one last chance to swing the decision his way.