Scotland's Colin Montgomerie will have three wild card picks for the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in Wales after being given the green light at a players' committee meeting this week.

The eight-time European No.1 had pushed for an increase on Europe's usual two at a meeting at the County Louth Golf Club in Baltray, where the 3 Irish Open begins on Thursday.

The Scot was eager to change the current system after 2008 captain Nick Faldo was forced to leave out four-time Ryder Cup winner Darren Clarke in favour of Paul Casey and Ian Poulter, after both decided to stay in America for the final stretch of the qualifying race.

The United States won back the Ryder Cup last September after Paul Azinger sought and was granted a further two captain's picks, making four in all.

The decision to allow Montgomerie just one extra wild card shows the importance still placed on trying to get the circuit's stars to play in as many European Tour events as possible

"I'm leaving the meeting delighted that I have one more option," Montgomerie said.

"I'm very, very confident and very happy that I got what I was looking for, which was one more option."