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European captain Colin Montgomerie wants and expects everybody still fighting for a Ryder Cup place to be in Scotland rather than America in the last week of qualifying.

Two years ago Ian Poulter caused a furore when he stayed in the States when he still could have got into the side on points by playing at Gleneagles in the Johnnie Walker Championship.

Nick Faldo stuck to his guns by picking Poulter, but whether Montgomerie - one of those who spoke out about the Englishman’s absence - hands anyone a wildcard in the same scenario now remains to be seen.

“I want to see them showing support for European golf and the European Tour and I will be very, very surprised if they are not there,” said the Scot on the eve of the Wales Open, over the same Celtic Manor course where October’s match takes place.

“That would make a whole lot of sense to a whole lot of people. I am convinced that I will have around eight candidates for three spots.

“You can count on those eight playing at Gleneagles. They will be there.”

It is not just any event in the States the same week, however.

It is the first of the four FedEx Cup play-off series events - a series that offers a 10million reward - and among those likely to have qualified are Poulter, Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald, Padraig Harrington, Paul Casey, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia and Brian Davis.

Poulter and McIlroy have just about done enough to make it into the side on points already - as has Lee Westwood, who is not a US Tour member - and so will avoid Montgomerie’s wrath by being there, but the others need a strong summer to avoid the cup race coming down to the last few weeks or week.

Garcia, an ever-present in the side since he became the youngest-ever cup player at the age of 19 in 1999, told Press Association Sport last week: “The Ryder Cup is important, but you can’t change your whole schedule for it.”

Donald, meanwhile, commented: “That will be a tough call, whether I can afford to miss a play-off event. I’ll have to take it as it comes.”

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European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has withdrawn from next week’s European Masters in Switzerland, the event which launches Europe’s year-long Cup points campaign.

“I need a week to recharge my batteries but I will avidly tune in to all the coverage as the race for Ryder Cup points kicks off,” Montgomerie said in a statement after completing his final round at the Johnnie Walker Championship in Gleneagles on Sunday.

Four players for Montgomerie’s 12-man team for next year’s match against the US holders will be chosen from a world points list and five from a European points list, with three wildcards added.

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Paul Lawrie believes he has a shot at making next year’s Ryder Cup team after finishing third in the Johnnie Walker Championship.

While qualification for Celtic Manor doesn’t start until Switzerland this week, the Scot was buoyed by his performance at Gleneagles despite leading by two at the halfway stage, eventually finishing three shots behind Peter Hedblom.

And although he has not won since 2002 he feels his game is getting back to where it was when he became the last Briton to win the Open Championship in 1999.

“I feel the things I’m working on and the way my game is I’ve got a real chance at making that team,” said the 40-year-old.

“You’ve got to think that in your head. I could have easily won. It’s a fine line and this week it was just incredibly fine.

“I think if you’re third it’s a good week and it was another solid week of ball-striking.

“I also think that the worst I could have finished was 10 under - that’s how I see it.

“I’ve had two short misses with the ball bobbling over the green and I’ve had two shots rolling over the pin and made bogey off both. That’s hard to take.”

Lawrie, who partnered next year’s captain Colin Montgomerie on his only Ryder Cup appearance 10 years ago, will not be making the trip to Switzerland and will begin his quest for points in Cologne next week.

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Swede Peter Hedblom made immediate amends for a playoff defeat the previous week by winning the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

Hedblom held off a charge by Martin Erlandsson to win by a stroke from his compatriot with a closing five-under-par 67 for a 13-under aggregate of 275.

Like the week before in the Netherlands, Hedblom led going into the final round, but this time finished the job after being put under pressure by Erlandsson’s spectacular finale, a 62.

Beginning the day a stroke ahead of the field, four successive birdies from the seventh proved the key to the 39-year-old’s third European Tour victory and a $380,000 prize.

Erlandsson nearly repeated the feat of Britain’s Dutch Open winner Simon Dyson by starting the day six strokes behind Hedblom and would have earned the Centenary course record but for preferred lies.

Hedblom’s sudden resurgence in form, rising over 100 places on Europe’s money-list in two weeks, has taken even him by surprise.

“This year has been unbelievable because I had played very poorly until last week,” Hedblom said.

“I felt a lot more confident playing the first nine holes today than I did last week and that was the key to winning.

“I feel as if I’ve got my career back on track now and hopefully this can lead to bigger things like playing in majors and world championships.”

Erlandsson’s $256,000 prize will enable him to climb from 135th on the money-list to virtually ensure a card for next season.

“It came to me around the 11th-12th (hole) that this could mean the card for next year but I managed to put that out of my mind and stay in the present,” the runner-up said.

Last year’s winner Gregory Havret (67) of France and first and second round leader Paul Lawrie of Britain (69) tied for third place, three shots behind Hedblom.

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Sweden’s Peter Hedblom takes a one-shot lead into the final day of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

Hedblom, loser of a play-off in Holland last week, fired a third round 68 to overtake former Open champion Paul Lawrie, whose bogeys at the 15th and 16th holes led to a one over 73.

They are eight under par and seven under with 18 holes to play and Hedblom said: “The scoring would be much lower if the greens were better.

“You know you’re going to miss some short ones and you just need to keep cool - but it’s tough.”

His only dropped shot came on the 13th when he failed to hole from under three feet.

An hour later Northern Ireland’s Jonathan Caldwell, two off the lead at the time, four-putted there from even closer range for a triple bogey seven.

Hedblom has recently started a practice putting routine of holing eight three-foot putts in a row and then eight from four feet, but he added: “I haven’t managed it once this week.

“I was there almost two hours the other day and was pulling my hair out. I’m supposed to keep going until I do it, but I just had to stop.”

Last year Lee Westwood called for the greens to be ripped up and relaid before the 2014 Ryder Cup.

Next August the course will again be staging the final counting event for Europe’s side and captain Colin Montgomerie - also this week’s tournament chairman - admits the problem will not be solved by then.

Montgomerie, who returned a 72 to remain level par, stated: “They have a five-year (improvement) plan and this is the second year.

“There is obviously work to do and it is on-going. By definition a five-year plan takes five years. The greens won’t improve tomorrow, but there is nothing to worry about for the Ryder Cup - they will be fantastic by then.

“They weren’t so good at the K Club about five or six years before the Ryder Cup was played there and they were fine come the championship, so I think the same goes for these.”

Four players are only two behind - Lawrie’s fellow Scot Steven O’Hara, Welshman Jamie Donaldson, Ryder Cup Dane Soren Hansen and Frenchman Gregory Bourdy.

O’Hara is trying to become the first player in European Tour history to win after surviving the halfway cut with nothing to spare.

The 29-year-old matched the low round of the week with his 66 early in the day, but still came off disappointed knowing it could so easily have been “a wee bit better.”

After 15 holes O’Hara was a spectacular eight under for the day and joint leader, but he three-putted the long 16th for a bogey six and dropped another shot on the 194-yard 17th after bunkering his tee shot.

Once again O’Hara thanked his wife Jill for caring after their three-week-old son Logan during the night as he slept in the spare room.

“She’s absolutely shattered - like a zombie - but I had a good night and I just wanted to get back into contention.”

He sank a 15-foot eagle putt on the second, turned in 31 and had a hat-trick of birdies from the 12th.

There was also a big move from England’s Richard Bland, another who survived the cut by the skin of his teeth.

Bland, who has missed the cut in eight of his past 10 events and is 143rd on the money list, was first out and, playing on his own, shot a 67 to climb from 48th into a tie for seventh.

In contrast double Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal bogeyed the final four holes for a 77 that dropped him from fifth to 32nd alongside Montgomerie, who was also asked about the controversy over event sponsors Diageo’s plans to cut their Scottish workforce by 900.

“Nothing to do with me and thank goodness for that, but I feel sympathy for every Scot that’s lost their job - these are very difficult times,” said Montgomerie.

The Unite union were distributing badges at the tournament with the slogan “Save Diageo Jobs” on them.

Lawrie believes the state of the greens has more to do with the recent wet weather rather than the surfaces.

“No matter where we had played this week I think we would have struggled on the greens. You just try to be patient,” he said.

“Overall I thought it was a very tough day. The wind was blowing extremely hard and changing direction quite a bit.”

He pushed a nine-iron into a bunker on the 15th and then found more sand with an eight-iron on the next that he called “the worst shot you’ve ever seen”.

He was in yet another bunker on the 17th, but saved par from 15 feet.

Collated third round scores & totals

(Gbr & Irl unless stated, par 72):

208 Peter Hedblom (Swe) 72 68 68

209 Paul Lawrie 67 69 73

210 Soren Hansen (Den) 69 70 71, Jamie Donaldson 69 71 70, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 70 69 71, Steven O’Hara 68 76 66

211 Richard Bland 72 72 67, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 69 70 72, Michael Jonzon (Swe) 70 69 72, Maarten Lafeber (NIrl) 71 67 73, Gregory Havret (Fra) 68 76 67

212 Daniel Vancsik (Arg) 69 69 74, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 70 71 71, Francois Delamontagne (Fra) 73 69 70, Fabrizio Zanotti (Par) 72 70 70, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 72 69 71

213 Danny Lee (Nzl) 71 70 72, Danny Willett 69 71 73, Graeme Storm 69 74 70

214 Jonathan Caldwell 72 66 76, Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 72 70 72, David Carter 74 70 70, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 74 70 70, Pablo Martin (Spa) 72 71 71, Pablo Larrazabal (Spa) 70 72 72

215 Gary Murphy 73 69 73, Damien McGrane 72 72 71, Gary Orr 73 71 71, Oliver Wilson 73 68 74, David Lynn 76 6871, Bradley Dredge 75 67 73

216 Alan McLean 69 73 74, Colin Montgomerie 76 68 72, Chinnarat Phadungsil (Tha) 70 70 76, Anthony Wall 69 75 72, Jose-Maria Olazabal (Spa) 71 68 77, Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor) 72 70 74, Phillip Archer 71 69 76, Ross McGowan 74 68 74

217 Christian Cevaer (Fra) 69 75 73, Alexander Noren (Swe) 69 74 74, Michael Curtain (Aus) 72 70 75, Marcus Fraser (Aus) 70 73 74

218 Patrik Sjoland (Swe) 70 72 76, Richie Ramsay 71 73 74, Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 71 71 76, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 72 71 75, Simon Khan 70 72 76, Alexandre Rocha (Bra) 72 69 77, David Dixon 76 68 74, Richard Finch 73 70 75, Christopher Doak 72 72 74

219 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 73 71 75, John E Morgan 70 71 78, Ake Nilsson (Swe) 68 73 78, Stephen Dodd 73 70 76, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 68 73 78, Bernd Wiesberger (Aut) 71 72 76, Simon Dyson 76 68 75

220 Gareth Maybin 69 73 78, Inder Van Weerelt (NIrl) 73 71 76, Stephen Leaney (Aus) 71 71 78

223 Gary Lockerbie 72 72 79, Scott Arnold (Aus) 71 72 80

227 Wil Besseling (NIrl) 73 70 84

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Scotland’s Paul Lawrie shot a second-round 69 to stay on top at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

Two strokes back are Northern Ireland’s Jonathan Caldwell, who shot a superb 66, Dutchman Maarten Lafeber and Argentine Daniel Vancsik.

Spain’s Jose Maria Olazabal is four under par after an impressive 68.

Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie carded a 68 to ensure that he avoided missing a fourth successive cut on the European Tour for the first time.

“Four missed cuts would be a new record for me and I don’t want to set those records,” said Montgomerie, who shot 76 in his first round.

“I hit all 18 greens in regulation, which is always good. That’s the way I always used to play, but I’ve not been hitting fairways - they have been a ghost to me.”

Lawrie, who recently enlisted Bob Torrance as his coach, has yet to card a bogey after 36 holes of golf.

“I played very well and I hit the ball extremely solidly,” said Lawrie.

“To be eight under par after two rounds without a bogey on my cards is very pleasing.

“I’ve been prone to the odd hook in my career and I’ve certainly got rid of that the last couple of days.”

Only two players - David J Russell in 1992 and Jesper Parnevik in 1995 - have gone through a European Tour event without dropping a stroke.

Lawrie was playing with Olazabal, who is suffering from rheumatism but nonetheless carded five birdies in the first six holes.

“I have a little bit of pain here and there, especially when I wake up in the morning,” said the Spaniard, who has not had a top-10 finish in Europe since 2006.

“You have to take it slow and give yourself more time to try to loosen up.

“Hitting shots my body is not moving as freely and I can’t practise as much as I need to, but I have to live with that for the time being.”

Olazabal is tied for third with Denmark’s Soren Hansen, France’s Gregory Bourdy and India’s Shiv Kapur.

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Paul Lawrie has a chance this weekend to achieve something which has even eluded Tiger Woods so far.

Only two players - David J Russell in 1992 and Jesper Parnevik three years later - have ever gone through a European Tour event without dropping a stroke.

Woods failed to join them on the very last hole of the 2002 American Express world championship at Mount Juliet in Ireland, but Lawrie is halfway there after adding a 69 to his opening 67 in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

The 40-year-old former Open champion, fighting for his Tour career a decade on from his Carnoustie triumph, stands eight under par and now leads by two from Northern Ireland rookie Jonathan Caldwell, Dutchman Maarten Lafeber and big-hitting Argentinian Daniel Vancsik.

“I wasn’t in trouble a lot, but when I had to I obviously kept the round going, which you have to do when you have no bogeys,” said Lawrie after doubling his first day advantage.

“I’ve been prone to the odd hook in my career and I’ve certainly got rid of that the last couple of days.

“I missed a few putts, but I’m very pleased with the way I hit it again. Overall you’re not going to grumble, but I’m a golfer and you always grumble!”

One fellow competitor certainly impressed by Lawrie’s display - and it was mutual - was playing partner Jose Maria Olazabal.

The double Masters champion, climbing into contention himself with a 68 for five under, commented: “We all know how good a chipper he is.

“His nickname ‘Chippy’ tells you pretty much everything.”

Olazabal was delighted with his own efforts, especially five birdies in the first six holes, given that he is suffering more problems with rheumatism.

“I have a little bit of pain here and there, especially when I wake up in the morning,” he said. “You have to take it slow and give yourself more time to try to loosen up.

“Hitting shots my body is not moving as freely and I can’t practise as much as I need to, but I have to live with that for the time being.”

However, Lawrie said: “His iron play is just outstanding and he’s the best we’ve got on this tour at making pars from a poor tee shot.

“There’s no question about that and it’s a pleasure to see him playing, never mind playing well.”

The Aberdeen golfer also experienced Olazabal the captain at the Royal Trophy in Bangkok in January and added: “I thought he was absolutely outstanding.

“It’s not for me to tell Colin (Montgomerie) what to do, but if Ollie’s not there I think it’s going to be weaker. I would have him there in some capacity.”

On being appointed Ryder Cup captain, Montgomerie said he wanted Olazabal as one of his assistants, but the double Masters champion, Nick Faldo’s vice-captain last year and clear favourite to be in charge in 2012, has not agreed yet - and still has not given up all hope of playing against the Americans again.

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Colin Montgomerie found his form in the nick of time today to save himself from missing a fourth successive halfway cut.

Europe’s Ryder Cup captain improved eight shots on his first round

76 in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

It still left Montgomerie eight shots off the lead, but he was a relieved man.

“Four missed cuts would be a new record for me and I don’t want to set those records,” he said. “I hit all 18 greens in regulation, which is always good.

“That’s the way I always used to play, but I’ve not been hitting fairways - they have been a ghost to me.

“I’ve been striving for extra length maybe. I’ve found myself getting shorter and shorter as the courses get longer and longer, but I should play to my strengths.”

Montgomerie has not had a top 10 finish for 14 months, but he wants “walk before we can run” and says he will happily settle for a top 20 placing on Sunday.

“That will give me confidence,” he added.

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Colin Montgomerie is refusing to blame his current slump on becoming Ryder Cup captain.

Montgomerie has never missed four successive halfway cuts on the European Tour, but that fate is now staring him in the face after a four-over-par opening round of 76 in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

“My golf was going downhill any way,” he said.

The 46-year-old, appointed captain in January, entered 2009 ranked 121st in the world. He is now 232nd - and 94th on the European money list.

Without a top-10 finish for 14 months, Montgomerie added after Thursday’s round: “I didn’t play well, obviously. I haven’t been playing well all year, and it just continues - same again.”

Wayward drives on the 13th and seventh were both lost and cost him double-bogey sixes.

Montgomerie’s first tournament after he was given the captaincy saw him finish 13th in Dubai. He matched that in France last month - but then came a 46th place finish in the Scottish Open and missed cuts in The Open, the US PGA and last week’s KLM Open in Holland.

“I’ve lost a bit of confidence - obviously you do when you miss cuts and you don’t compete, never mind contend,” he said.

In May, he said of leading Europe: “It’s a huge distraction, which might well be a good thing in the long run, I’m not sure.

“Wait and see on that one. The jury is out on that.”

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Scotland’s Paul Lawrie fired a five-under-par 67 to lead after the first round of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

One stroke back are Scot Steven O’Hara, France’s Gregory Havret, Swede Ake Nilsson and Australian Wade Ormsby.

Spain’s Jose Maria Olazabal is one under par, but European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie is four over after a disappointing 76.

The Scot has never missed four successive cuts on the European Tour.

But that fate is now staring him in the face after a round containing three birdies, three bogeys and two double bogeys.

However, Montgomerie refused to blame the responsibility of the Ryder Cup captaincy for his current slump.

“My golf was going downhill anyway,” said the 46-year-old, who was appointed to the role in January and who has collapsed from 121st in the world at the start of the season to 232nd.

Without a top-10 finish for 14 months, Montgomerie added: “I didn’t play well, obviously. I haven’t been playing well all year, and it just continues - same again.”

Lawrie was 97th on the money list going into the tournament and needs to be in the top 115 in November to save his card after 10 years of exemptions following his Open triumph at Carnoustie in 1999. He is without a win since the 2002 Wales Open.

Lawrie, still Britain’s last winner of a major title, did not drop a stroke all day and the highlight was a 40-foot putt for an eagle on the long 9th.

At last month’s Open he sought help from Padraig Harrington’s coach Bob Torrance and since then has made the journey from Aberdeen to Largs - three hours each way - five or six times.

“It’s been too long since I won,” said Lawrie, 40. “I’ve always wanted to work with him, but it’s never been the right time. I think it’s the right time now.”

Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn, playing for the first time in almost two months because of dizzy spells that led to him having a brain scan, crashed to a 10-over 82.

“That was even worse than I thought it would be,” said the former Ryder Cupper. “I’m just feeling out of sorts.

“I wasn’t dizzy out there, but I did get tired and being out of the game so long it was always going to be hard.”

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