Ryder Cup: Captain Monty can earn his place among legends of the Ryder Cup

Seve Ballesteros, Sam Torrance, Bernhard Langer and Ian Woosnam have all played in and captained winning European teams in the modern era, and if the Scot wants to join that illustrious band he must inspire the continent's chosen 12 to victory at Celtic Manor this week.

The Ryder Cup holds a special place in Montgomerie's life, and indeed, the very fabric of the European game.

Since the expansion from a ritual US drubbing of the Great Britain and Ireland team – they won only three times in the first 50 years, one at Lindrick and the first time 28 years earlier at Moortown in Leeds – into the present day slugfest between two fierce rivals, the Ryder Cup has held great significance on this side of the pond, helping the contest transcend golfing boundaries into one of the greatest sporting events on the calendar.

Boasting an array of the biggest names in sport, more than 100,000 fans will descend on Celtic Manor in Newport, Wales, this weekend to witness some of the most passionate and emotional sporting theatre of the year. Put simply, the Ryder Cup is special, and this year promises to be one of the most dramatic ties in the history of this great fixture.

Reignited by an American victory at Valhalla two years ago, this renewal of rivalries between Europe and the United States has been eagerly anticipated.

After a period of unprecedented dominance, Europe once again find themselves trying to win back the Cup from the megastars of the United States.

Leading them is a man who epitomises more than any other how much the Ryder Cup means.

If it was not for this biennial tussle with the Americans, Montgomerie would be remembered merely as the best player never to win a major.

As it is, his reputation is sealed by a sensational record in the Ryder Cup. Unbeaten in eight singles matches, his influence on the contest is far greater.

He was the on-course general who sparked Europe's victory charge at the Belfry in 2002; the loudest voice in the team room when spirits needed lifting.

Victory as captain next week will complete his legacy.

Trying to prevent him achieving such honour is Corey Pavin, a fierce adversary himself who won eight matches in his three Cup appearances in the early 1990s.

At their disposal is the strongest Ryder Cup line-up in living memory.

All 24 players are currently ranked in the world's top 50; with nine of the top 10 players competing in Wales.

In Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer, Europe has major champions to call on – something they were missing in 2002, 04 and 06 when they still somehow dominated.

That Harrington was reliant on one of Montgomerie's wild card selections, and Paul Casey and Justin Rose who are the world's No 7 and No 23 miss out altogether, says everything about the strength in depth of the home team.

Granted, there are six rookies in Montgomerie's dozen, but that sextet includes Kaymer, Rory McIlroy and Ross Fisher, players already established among the world's elite.

The inclusion of the Molinari brothers of Italy, Edoardo and Francesco, is a fascinating subplot to this European team. They are the first brothers to compete in the event since 1963 and after guiding Italy to World Cup success last year are many people's bet to forge a formidable partnership in the foursomes and fourballs.

The Ulster connection of McDowell and McIlroy appears another nailed-on partnership, while Lee Westwood will hopefully be fully fit and eager to spearhead Europe's challenge.

The world No 3 has been out of action since early August with a calf injury but as Montgomerie's most capped player, the Worksop man is best placed to assume the role of on-course leader.

Throw in Ian Poulter, Luke Donald and Miguel Angel Jimenez and Europe has great strength, particularly with Poulter's tenacity and Donald's awesome foursomes record.

Sweden's Peter Hanson is the only unknown quantity, but lesser lights have been known to raise their game on the grandest stage.

The passion and intensity of Sergio Garcia will be sadly missed.

Few inspire the crowd as well as the mercurial Spaniard but with his game on a downward spiral he took himself out of the running to be involved as a player and has been invited to join Montgomerie's backroom staff. Mindful of the error Nick Faldo made two years ago in only naming one assistant, Montgomerie has surrounded himself with a wealth of Ryder Cup experience to steer their buggies to those nooks and crannies of the Celtic Manor course that the captain can't get to.

The appointment of Thomas Bjorn, Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke as vice-captains, as well as Garcia, might prove as cunning as his wild card picks. It all sounds so easy for Europe, but winning the Ryder Cup is never a formality, not against a similarly determined US team.

America's weakness might be at the top where Phil Mickelson is struggling with arthritis and Tiger Woods with his inner demons, but their strength is their depth and the hunger provided by a new crop of players, desperate to impress.

Out are the likes of Anthony Kim, Boo Weekly and JB Holmes who stirred the Kentucky crowd into a frenzy two years ago. In come young, in-form and fearless golfers in Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson, Matt Kuchar and Rickie Fowler.

Players of the ilk of Stewart Cink, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Hunter Mahan and Zach Johnson illustrate the quality of Pavin's team.

Let battle commence.