Monty's cupboard isn't bare

Don't bet the ranch on Team America winning the Ryder Cup this fall at the Celtic Manor Resort in the City of Newport, Wales.

Martin Kaymer was impressive yesterday in winning the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship by a shot over Ian Poulter, and the strong play of Kaymer, Poulter and Rory McIlroy down the stretch offered more proof that Team Europe will have all the talent it needs to regain the prize it lost in 2008 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.

After watching Kaymer birdie the final hole at Abu Dhabi Golf Club to card a final round of 6-under-par 66 and finish 21 under, Oldgolfdawg couldn't help but think Team America's victory at Valhalla was more likely an abberation than the start of a trend. European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has to feel good about the chance to have Kaymer at his disposal in October along with Poulter and McIlroy.

American Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin, meanwhile, couldn't take too much comfort from the fact that the top American in the field, Anthony Kim, finished in a tie for 13th at 12 under. European golf fans still have images of Boo Weekley playfully riding his driver like it was a horse when remembering the loss at Valhalla, and they will be at Celtic Manor in force Oct. 1-3 when Team America tries to retain the Cup.

Since 1987 when Europe scored its first victory on U.S. soil at Jack Nicklaus' Muirfield Village Golf Club, the Europeans have a 6 1/2 to 4 1/2 edge in Ryder Cup play. Before falling at Valhalla, Team Europe had won the previous three Ryder Cups, and two of those were by lopsided 18 1/2 to 9 1/2 scores.

Kaymer, a 25-year-old German who climbed to No. 6 in the world rankings, hopes his second Abu Dhabi Golf Championship title will be the catalyst to a highly anticipated Ryder Cup debut at Celtic Manor. After winning his maiden title in Abu Dhabi in 2008, he used the confidence gained from adding three victories since to edge Poulter with a two-putt birdie on the final hole.

“My goal for every year is to win two tournaments on the European Tour. I did it in 2008 and 2009 and I hope I can do it this year,” Kaymer said. “But my main goal is to play the Ryder Cup this year because when I went there two years ago I really felt I want to be there one day because it is so cool. Even though I wasn’t playing, it gave me so much experience and it helped me so much."