In a surprise turnaround Colin Montgomerie indicted he would be prepared to accept the captaincy of the  2014 European Ryder Cup side.

Montgomerie had indicated shortly after leading Europe to victory last October in Wales that he was not interested in agani captaining Europe.

However Monty has now reversed that decision following comments by fellow Scot Sandy Lyle.

Lyle said: “I wouldn’t put it past the European Tour to invite him (Monty) back again as he knows the course, the surrounding area and what is and what is not needed there”.

The recent Seniors Tour winner also commented saying:  “I think he (Monty) would be the man to choose unless someone like Darren Clarke or Paul McGinley feels he is next in line.”

Monty has not spoken with Lyle since the former U.S. Masters and Open Champion caused a furore at the 2009 Open Championship in accusing Monty of cheating over an incident during the 2005 Indonesian Open.

But despite a lack of dialogue between the pair, Monty was certainly aware of Lyle’s Ryder Cup captaincy remarks.

“I don’t know where Sandy is coming from but that’s just his own opinion, I suppose,” said Monty on the eve of Thursday’s sarting Andalucian Open at Malaga in Spain.

“But whether or not I am captain in 2014 depends on how things go in 2012 and what the committee’s feeling are.

“I am just there to support the Tour, as I’ve always said.

“Anyway, I am sure I will be involved because of my affiliation with Gleneagles whatever that might be.

“But if asked again, and because of my involvement for and with the Tour over the years, I would have to accept.  Only if they wanted me.

“So they would have to approach me.  I wouldn’t be approaching them.”