Nick Dougherty is surprised that with just three events remaining in Europe�s Ryder Cup race, some players still struggling to make the side are having a week off.

Nick Dougherty is surprised that with just three events remaining in Europe's Ryder Cup race, some players still struggling to make the side are having a week off.

Justin Rose, Oliver Wilson and Soren Hansen are eight, ninth and 10th in the qualifying table, but not one of them is at the SAS Masters in Stockholm. Nor is Colin Montgomerie - and since the Scot is not entered for next week's KLM Open in Holland either, his only way into Nick Faldo's team now is as one of the two wild cards. That is far from guaranteed. Indeed, many think it unlikely.

With Ian Poulter and Paul Casey needing a captain's pick, Montgomerie's recent form, 149th out of 155 at the US PGA last week and 77th out of 80 in the previous week's Bridgestone World Championship, has to count against him.

Dougherty, presented with a chance to get back into contention for a debut by the absence of Rose, Wilson and Hansen, said: "I am surprised. If I was in their position, I would be playing. It's hard to criticise them at this point, though, because if they come out the next two weeks and make the side, it was a great decision not to play here. However, if they don't make the side, they will be kicking themselves."

The 26-year-old, whose mother died in April, had dropped from top of the table in October to 15th. He has not had a top-50 finish in his last seven starts, but is back this week on the Arlandastad course where he was joint runner-up in August, and should he win on Sunday, he will be just over £20,000 behind Hansen.

Another intriguing aspect of the final Ryder Cup countdown is Casey's decision to stay in America rather than return to Europe, as Rose and Poulter may yet do to try to secure their places.

Casey spoke recently of having three more chances in the States to qualify automatically, but the third of them does not count in the points race. "Maybe Paul does not know that," said Dougherty, who believes his only way of being part of the team next month is to force his way in. "I think Nick's going to pick Ian if he has to because of his second place at the Open and if Paul Casey is playing decently you would definitely pick him."