Darren Clarke wants to captain Team Europe in 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine
Ulsterman has always felt appreciated by American fans
Last Updated: 24/09/14 8:44am
Darren Clarke says he would love to captain Europe in the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine.
Clarke, 46, has appeared in seven Ryder Cups – five times as a player and twice as a vice-captain – and hopes to be given the top job in Minnesota in two years’ time.
However, the 2011 Open Champion – who will be commentating on this term’s Europe-USA showdown at Gleneagles for Sky Sports – insists he would not turn down any opportunity to skipper his continent.
Wherever it is, I just hope at some stage that I get asked to have the ultimate honour and be Ryder Cup captain.
Darren Clarke
“I would love to be [the next Ryder Cup captain], but that’s not up to me, and if [the European Tour committee] were to offer me the job I would certainly not be picky as to when it would be,“ said Clarke.
“It would be too big an honour to differentiate between doing it in America or doing it in Europe.
“But, certainly, I’ve always been fortunate throughout my career that I seem to have been quite popular with the American fans, who have always been very, very good and very, very kind to me.
“Wherever it is, I just hope at some stage that they do ask me to have the ultimate honour and be Ryder Cup captain.
“Playing records and everything come into it, but there is no interview and it’s for whomever the committee think is the best man for the job.”
Prerogative
Clarke was one of Colin Montgomerie’s Ryder Cup vice-captains at Celtic Manor in 2010 and carried out the same role for Jose Maria Olazabal at Medinah in 2012.
The Ulsterman, though, was not picked to act as a deputy for Paul McGinley in Perthshire, but says he is not disappointed to be overlooked in favour of Olazabal, Sam Torrance, Des Smyth, Miguel Angel Jimenez, and Padraig Harrington.
And Clarke has backed McGinley to do a sterling job in Scotland.
“It’s completely up to Paul who he wants to have in his backroom and I’m sure he’ll be fine,” added Clarke.
“Would I have liked to be there? Of course I would, as anything I can do to help a European team to win is what I’ve always tried to do.
“But it’s a captain’s prerogative whatever he wants to do, and he’s picked the best guys for the job.
“I think Paul will be a fantastic captain.
“He is very statistically-minded, he’ll know every player’s strength and the areas of the game where they’re maybe not quite so strong, and I’m sure he’ll make his pairings accordingly.
“He’s got the respect of all the players and he’ll put everybody at ease, so I’m sure Paul will do everything brilliantly well during the week.”
Watch exclusive coverage of all three days of the 2014 Ryder Cup - Sep 26-28 - on Sky Sports' dedicated Ryder Cup channel and via the Sky Sports for iPad app's dedicated Ryder Cup Match Centre.
