Captains fall under spell of Ryder Cup course

By Kevin Fylan

NEWPORT, Wales (Reuters) - Not far from the first tee on the Twenty Ten course at Celtic Manor, across the gleaming new suspension bridge over the River Usk, stands the town of Caerleon, where legend has it King Arthur held court.

While myth and magic are very much in the air at the first Welsh venue to host the Ryder Cup -- even the hotel bar is named after Merlin, Arthur's magician -- European captain Colin Montgomerie promises there will be no sleight of hand.

Montgomerie joined United States captain Corey Pavin for a nine-hole stroll around the course this week, a year before the two teams clash for real, and the Scot was keeping no secrets as he gave his guest the guided tour.

"I don't think I'll be playing too many tricks with the golf course," Montgomerie told Reuters after the match, played in glorious weather. "The course will be laid out very similarly to how we played it today.

"There is a certain home course advantage to be had, but at the same time you can tie yourself in knots trying to set up courses to suit certain people. You come unstuck sometimes.

"I think just good golf will be the winner. At the end of the day, if you play better than your opponent, you'll beat him."

FIVE WINS

It comes as no surprise that Montgomerie makes plotting a route to Ryder Cup glory sound as simple as a walk in the sunshine.