Ryder Cup skipper Colin Montgomerie feels that he still needs to win tournaments as a player if he is to win the respect of his charges at Celtic Manor next year.
The team of Montogomerie and Marc Warren won the World Cup for Scotland at Mission Hills in November 2007, whilst his last individual triumph came in July of the same year in the European Open at the K-Club.
He said: "It's very important to show that I'm still competing. I've always thought it was very important for players to have respect for their captain.
"If I start and keep winning in the 18 months before the Cup, it will be important for me standing on that first tee and for the team to look at me and know they have a captain competing at the very top level."
Nonetheless, Monty insists that he will not play himself in the Ryder Cup, even if he hits a purple patch of form.
He said: "No, I will not be playing, even if I win most of the tournaments never mind one. I was selected as captain and not player.
"We are very fortunate in Europe to have a number of players vying for those positions of higher standard than mine right now.
"That wealth of talent far outweighs anything I can do so I'll stay on the sidelines and try to help them round as best I can." Monty has had a lot of success in Asia and believes his game is good enough to be a contender for the title in Beijing.
He added: "It's not too bad. I just need to cut out the mistakes.
"It's been too long since I won and I'd like to get back into that winning circle again."