Ryder Cup: Darren Clarke wants to be Europe's captain as focus turns to 2016 event at Hazeltine
Last Updated: 29/09/14 6:08pm
Darren Clarke admits he would love to replace Paul McGinley as Europe's Ryder Cup captain.
Clarke was a vice-captain two years ago at Medinah, where Europe memorably fought back from 10-6 down to win.
The USA were in the same position at Gleneagles on Sunday, but after a brief rally they were well beaten, 16.5-11.5.
McGinley insists he will not be involved again either as captain or vice-captain as he has now done both roles.
Clarke has been installed as Sky Bet's odds-on favourite to replace him, ahead of Miguel Angel Jimenez, Thomas Bjorn, Padraig Harrington, Colin Montgomerie, Bernard Langer, David Howell, Jose Maria Olazabal and Paul Lawrie.
And Clarke, who has played in six Ryder Cups and won it four times, confirmed he wants to be considered.
“I would love to be at some stage. But that’s up to the committee to decide,” Clarke told Sky Sports.
“They will have a list of potential candidates and look at each one on merit, discuss it and decide which guy is best. Obviously it would be a huge honour. If they would offer me the position I would love to do it at some stage.”
Honour
McGinley says he is happy to help the team in any way he can, but not in an official capacity.
"The Ryder Cup has been very good to me and I'm quite happy now to take very much a background (role)," McGinley said.
"I've got a role now in deciding who the next captain will be and we'll see where that goes in the next few months on behalf of the European Tour."
McGinley was asked if he would consider being a vice-captain in future, but added: "No, I've done my piece and I'm happy to have the honour and happy to help in any way going forward.
"I don't think it would be right for me to go into the vice-captaincy role. I don't know if I'd quite enjoy that, having done it, and then stepped up to captaincy.
"But I'm very happy to help the captain in any way. On the European side, obviously!"