Montgomerie's Ryder Cup debut comes alongside Seve Ballesteros and Nick Faldo in the 'War on the Shore' at Kiawah Island in 1991

An early example of what the event means to Monty as he halves his singles tie with Mark Calcavecchia in Europe's 14½-13½ defeat

Faldo and Montgomerie team up in 1993 and record two wins, a half and one defeat, but Europe are beaten 15-13 at the Belfry

Relations remain cordial in 1995 at Oak Hill as Faldo and Montgomerie are paired together again, but this time they lose two and win one

But Montgomerie beats Ben Crenshaw 3&1 as Europe take the singles 7½-4½ and Bernard Gallacher's team triumph 14½-13½

Partnering Bernard Langer at Valderrama in Spain in 1997, Monty wins one and loses one against Tiger Woods and Mark O'Meara

He enjoys two other wins and maintains an unbeaten singles record in a half with Scott Hoch that seals a 14½-13½ Europe win

Monty partners then Open champion Paul Lawrie during Europe's defeat at Brookline in 1999, winning two, halving one and losing one

After the event is put back a year following the 9/11 tragedy in 2001, Monty plays an inspirational role again as Europe win 15½-12½

Monty partners the unflappable Langer in the first three pairings and the couple record two wins and a half

Sam Torrance's Europeans generate a superb team spirit to seal a 15½-12½ success, their biggest victory since 1985

In 2004, Monty is paired with Padraig Harrington and they win 2&1 against Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in the opener

Monty is in the driving seat for much of the 2004 event, here with Ian Poulter during happier times between the pair

Fittingly, Montgomerie, a wildcard, has the distinction of holing the putt that wins the Ryder Cup, as Europe coast to victory in Michigan

Europe's 18½-9½ win is the largest margin of victory since America's in 1981, and the biggest defeat for the US on home soil

The support is fervent and the atmosphere electric as the K Club in Ireland hosts the Ryder Cup for the first time in 2006

Monty and Harrington lose to Woods and Jim Furyk in the first match but it is the only American victory on the first day

Captain Woosnam and the superb Irish support help generate another memorable occasion as Europe storm to a 18½-9½ win

His 36 games yield 23½ points, his undefeated singles run of seven points, with six wins, equals the Cup record

But one of the competition's greatest players misses out on a wildcard pick in Nick Faldo's 2008 team in Kentucky

The 45-year-old Scot rules himself out of playing in the 2010 event after taking the captaincy for Celtic Manor