Darren Clarke thrilled with first three Ryder Cup assistant captains
Saturday 28 May 2016 11:07, UK
Darren Clarke declared himself "over the moon" that Padraig Harrington, Paul Lawrie and Thomas Bjorn have agreed to be his vice-captains for the Ryder Cup.
Clarke announced his first three assistant skippers for this year's contest at Hazeltine, and he also confirmed he is planning to add two more around the time of The Open at Royal Troon in July.
Harrington and Bjorn have both had previous experience of being part of the Ryder Cup backroom team, and Clarke outlined his complete trust in all three and was adamant that their honesty and valued opinions will be a huge asset to the European team.
"I think as a vice captain, having been there, you want honesty from your vice captains," Clarke said after making the announcement during the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. "You want them to tell you exactly what they are thinking.
"Obviously I wouldn't have asked the guys to be part of the whole team unless I trusted their judgment. These are three fantastic players with seriously, seriously good golfing careers. They know what they are looking at whenever they see guys performing in The Ryder Cup.
"They have all played before they have all played under that extreme of pressure. They know what they are looking for, and they know whether they are looking at guys who are maybe a little bit off form, guys that are a little bit nervous.
"And because I can't be everywhere at one time, that's what I've been told from the Tour and all the previous captains I've spoken to, it's a pretty hectic week for the captain. So they are my eyes and ears.
"With the level of trust that I do have in these three, I've got no worries whatsoever that I'm going to have some fantastic information and, indeed, advice and support coming back my direction."
Clarke also admitted he did not want to complete his backroom team at this stage as some of the players he had in mind for the roles were still determined to play in the contest.
When asked if he had considered his close friend Lee Westwood, Clarke added: "There's quite a few different guys that are all in the running for those final two places. It's a difficult thing. I didn't want to ask these guys too early a stage because they are still playing some fantastic golf.
"If you ask them to do it, it's almost like you think they can't play and they are not going to make the team. That was my opinion. All of them still could if they had a really good summer with some of the big tournaments we've got coming up.
"But as of now, these are my first three and I'm over the moon with the fact that all three of them have agreed. I will have two more later in the year, hopefully that will be around The Open Championship. That would be my plan, because there's a few guys who are playing very well still, and plus I have another couple of guys that I have in mind.
"You don't want to ask somebody if they are still playing very well for fear of insulting them, and that's not the way I'd like to do things. We're going to see how things progress with the individuals I have in mind, and I will be hopefully in a position to announce the other two come The Open Championship."
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