We take a look at Europe's past Ryder Cup captains as Darren Clarke is confirmed for 2016
Wednesday 18 February 2015 17:20, UK
Following Wednesday's announcement on who will lead Europe at Hazeltine next autumn, Sky Sports Golf looks back at Europe's previous Ryder Cup captains.
1983, 1985, 1987, 1989 - Tony Jacklin
A member of Golf's Hall of Fame and a former Open winner, Jacklin is frequently hailed as the greatest Ryder Cup captain ever after leading Europe through four consecutive tournaments.
Despite never appearing on the winning side in seven tournament appearances as a player, Jacklin still managed a near 50 percent win match ratio, while his incredible 50-foot eagle putt on the 17th in 1969 against Jack Nicklaus saw Great Britain secure their first ever tournament tie.
After overseeing Europe's first victory in 1985, he saw his side triumph again two years later before retaining the trophy with a tie in 1989. A new era for the Ryder Cup was born.
1991, 1993 & 1995 - Bernard Gallacher
Remarkably, Gallacher featured in every Ryder Cup over a 26-year period, describing his time as captain as a "privilege".
After making his debut aged 20 in 1969, the Scot appeared in the following seven tournaments before spending the next three as Jacklin's assistant.
With Gallacher handed the reigns two years later, he saw his side narrowly beaten at Kiawah Island and The Belfry, before claiming a long-awaited victory on foreign soil in 1995.
1997 - Seve Ballesteros
Arguably the greatest golfer to have ever lived, the charismatic ‘Mr Ryder Cup’ was a mainstay in helping transform European fortunes in a previously USA-dominated event.
Ballesteros featured in the first eight events that allowed non-British players to compete, with the five-time major winner forming a formidable partnership with compatriot José María Olazábal, winning 11 and halving two of 15 pairs matches.
Fittingly, the Spaniard was handed the captaincy for the tournament’s first visit to his native Spain in 1997, where he led Europe to a convincing start before holding on to a narrow one-point win.
1999 – Mark James
The seven-time Ryder Cup player was part of the victories in 1989 and 1995 and led Europe into the infamous “Battle of Brookline”, where the hosts dramatically overturned a four-point final day deficit to snatch the trophy in controversial circumstances.
James had already been criticised for his pre-tournament selection by leaving out Ryder Cup veterans Sir Nick Faldo and Bernhard Langer from his captain’s picks, before over-using his key players in the first three days and only using rookies – including Sky Sports commentator Andrew Coltart – in the Sunday singles.
The Englishman was named as a vice-captain to his successor Sam Torrance, but was forced to resign after fall out from his book ‘Into the Bear Pit’, where he criticised Nick Faldo and the American team.
2002 – Sam Torrance
Seventeen years on from sinking the winning putt at The Belfry to secure Europe’s first win, Torrance guided the hosts to a convincing victory at the same venue.
The Scot was widely praised for his ‘bold’ choices in the Sunday singles, where the hosts got off to a flying start in the 15 ½-12 ½ triumph.
Torrance played in eight consecutive tournaments, including the first-ever win on foreign soil in 1987, while also featuring as a vice-captain in 1999 and at last year’s Gleneagles success.
2004 – Bernhard Langer
A five-time Ryder Cup winner as a player, Langer featured in ten tournaments before leading Europe to their biggest every victory across the pond.
Langer's leadership qualities were demonstrated at Oakland Hills, with his team of pre-tournament underdogs thrashing the hosts by nine points to retain the trophy.
The two-time Masters champion could have a sixth-triumph to his name had he not missed a five-foot putt in 1991, which would have been enough for Europe to retain the title he had helped win two years earlier.
2006 - Ian Woosnam
Woosnam held an impressive record during his eight consecutive Ryder Cup appearences, despite never winning a singles match during that run.
With 14 wins to his name, 10 of which coming via the fourballs, the then-world No1 was part of three Europe victories, including a final appearance in 1997.
After assisting Sam Torrance at The Belfry, Woosnam had an emphatic winning turn as captain in 2006 as the hosts cruised to victory.
2008 – Nick Faldo
Faldo is widely considered as the most successful Ryder Cup player in history, having featured in a record-breaking 11 consecutive tournaments and still holding the honour of being Europe’s all-time record points scorer.
At one stage the youngest player to appear in the competition at 20, Faldo played every tournament from 1977 to 1997, helping Europe to numerous triumphs, although was unable to replicate his success as a captain.
Without any vice-captaincy experience and condemned for his questionable tactical choices, Faldo guided Europe to their heaviest defeat in nearly three decades with a five point loss at Valhalla.
2010 - Colin Montgomerie
'Mr Dependable’ for Europe over the years, Montgomerie is still regarded as a Ryder Cup great having never lost a singles match during his eight appearances as a player.
As one of the highest point scorers of all-time, the Scot helped Europe to win on five occasions, collecting the half-point needed to win at Valderrama in 1997 and sinking the winning putt seven years later.
Montgomerie then guided Europe to a dramatic 14 ½-13 ½ victory at a weather-affected Celtic Manor, in what he himself described as a "very proud moment for all of Europe".
2012 - Jose Olazabal
The Spaniard boasts one of the highest win percentages of any European Ryder Cup player, having won 66 precent of the 31 matches he featured in during eight tournament appearances.
Sharing the record for most fourball points with Ian Woosnam, Olazabal was vice-captain in 2008 and 2010 before leading Europe to a remarkable win in Medinah two years later.
Trailing by four heading into the singles, Europe claimed eight ½ out of a possible 12 points to retain their title against the odds, with Olazabal breaking down in tears after collecting the trophy.
2014 – Paul McGinley
Very few can boast a more impressive Ryder Cup record than the Irishman, who has never been involved in a Europe defeat in six appearances.
After playing in three consecutive Europe victories from 2002 through to 2006, McGinley was vice-captain for narrow wins at Celtic Manor and Medinah before taking charge of last year’s convincing success at Gleneagles.
While the four-time European Tour winner only won two of the nine matches he played in, he holed the winning putt in 2002 to halve his singles match with Jim Furyk - celebrating by jumping into the lake at The Belfry!
