Woosnam will get first shot at the US

14 April 2012

Unless a sandstorm suddenly blows in from the desert here and clouds collective thought, Ian Woosnam will tomorrow celebrate his 47th birthday by being confirmed as Europe's Ryder Cup captain for the 36th match against the United States.

Just as he was a perfect fit for the green jacket that was slipped over his shoulders by outgoing champion Nick Faldo at the 1991 Masters, so the Welshman is perfect for the first Ryder Cup to be held in Ireland.

The K Club near Dublin will be the host course in September next year and the Irish like a man who wears his heart on his sleeve. They also like a man who enjoys a pint. Or two. Woosnam ticks all the boxes, including that of all-round experience in one of sport's toughest team competitions.

He has played in eight Ryder Cups, and in 2002 was sidekick to Sam Torrance when Europe triumphed at The Belfry. A bigger decision facing the European Tour committee, who meet tonight at the Emirates Golf Club on the eve of the Dubai Desert Classic, is what to do about Faldo.

The 47-year-old Englishman was Woosnam's only real challenger for the task of defending the trophy won by the tactically brilliant Bernhard Langer at Oakland Hills near Detroit five months ago. But while Faldo offers an unrivalled Ryder Cup record as a player, it is understood he falls short of personal support on the 14-member committee.

Therein lies a dilemma for the men charged with laying the foundations for a successful defence of the Cup. Faldo's credentials as a Cup captain cannot be ignored, so will they dilute Faldo's disappointment in missing out on Ireland by appointing him captain for the 2008 match at the Valhalla course in Kentucky?

That idea is supported by Colin Montgomerie, who will be an influential figure in the committee room.

"I don't have a problem naming two captains," he said. "We've got two strong candidates, two men who have been world No1 and have supported the European Tour fully.

"They each deserve their chance, so why name one and leave the other feeling let down and asking 'what's wrong with me'?"

The Tour committee include four members of the 2004 team - Montgomerie, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Miguel Angel Jimenez - plus Langer and his two assistants at Oakland Hills, Thomas Bjorn and Joakim Haeggman.

The others are vice-chairman Jean Van de Velde and Andrew Coltart, who both played in the controversial Battle of Brookline in 1999, and former tournament winners: chairman Jamie Spence, Roger Chapman, Henrik Stenson, Mark Roe and Robert Lee.

They will, however, have heeded influential opinions from outside their number.

Mark James, the prickly captain in 1999 who famously binned Faldo's good luck letter-said: "I think Woosie is the best candidate for the next Ryder Cup and probably Nick for the one after that. We need a more emotive person to connect with the home crowd, and I think someone with a more detached, clinical mindset is better over there. That sort of describes both men's personalities."

Woosnam was one of Europe's steadiest Ryder Cup competitors, when teamed with someone else. But his record in the singles was dismal with no wins against six defeats and two halved matches.

Indeed, when he lost 8 and 7 to Fred Couples at Valderrama in 1997 he tied the record for the biggest losing margin for an 18-hole match established by Tom Kite over Howard Clark in 1989.

By contrast, Faldo's Ryder Cup records include the most Ryder Cup caps (11), the most holes played (766), the most matches (46), the most wins (23) and the most points scored (25). But he has never been part of the backroom staff - and that counts against him according to Torrance.

The Scot said: "I thought my greatest asset was being vice-captain to Mark James. You learn so much more about the captain's job in that way. Ian was vice-captain to me and he did a great job. It is still fresh in his mind and I think he is ready."

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