Woosnam, Faldo Tabbed as Ryder Cup Captains
Wednesday March 2, 2005
The European Tour's decision in selecting Team Europe's next Ryder Cup captain might, arguably, have been more difficult than that of the PGA of America in selecting the next U.S. captain. Europe was coming off an extremely successful Ryder Cup victory with a popular captain, Bernhard Langer. Several European golfers were openly campaigning for the job. What do do? The European Tour found an easy way out:
Name two Ryder Cup captains. Those captains are Ian Woosnam in 2006 and Nick Faldo in 2008.
Left out in the cold, for the time being, is Colin Montgomerie, who had removed himself from consideration for the 2006 job. Now he'll have to wait until at least 2010, when - unless his playing career is still going strong as he nears age 50 - he would seem to be a certainty for the job.
Also bypassed were Sandy Lyle and Des Smyth. Smyth was always a longshot. Lyle, a British Open and Masters champ, would be a worthy captain. But working against him is the fact that he has rarely been competitive since the early 1990s. By 2010 - or, more likely, 2012 assuming Monty gets the nod after Faldo - Lyle's opportunity will be gone.
Woosnam made an odd admission, reported by The Associated Press, following the announcement: He doesn't know who all the players are on the European team. But Woosie says he'll work towards learning all their names before the '06 Ryder Cup tees off. Good idea!
Naming Faldo now for the 2008 captaincy was a way for the European Tour - which has had its run-ins with Faldo over the years - to avoid the appearance of a snub.
Faldo in '08 sets up an interesting possibility. Paul Azinger is considered a front-runner for the American captaincy in '08. Is it possible that the new ABC broadcast partners will be squaring off against each other as Ryder Cup captains? Stay tuned.
More on the Ryder Cup
Name two Ryder Cup captains. Those captains are Ian Woosnam in 2006 and Nick Faldo in 2008.
Left out in the cold, for the time being, is Colin Montgomerie, who had removed himself from consideration for the 2006 job. Now he'll have to wait until at least 2010, when - unless his playing career is still going strong as he nears age 50 - he would seem to be a certainty for the job.
Also bypassed were Sandy Lyle and Des Smyth. Smyth was always a longshot. Lyle, a British Open and Masters champ, would be a worthy captain. But working against him is the fact that he has rarely been competitive since the early 1990s. By 2010 - or, more likely, 2012 assuming Monty gets the nod after Faldo - Lyle's opportunity will be gone.
Woosnam made an odd admission, reported by The Associated Press, following the announcement: He doesn't know who all the players are on the European team. But Woosie says he'll work towards learning all their names before the '06 Ryder Cup tees off. Good idea!
Naming Faldo now for the 2008 captaincy was a way for the European Tour - which has had its run-ins with Faldo over the years - to avoid the appearance of a snub.
Faldo in '08 sets up an interesting possibility. Paul Azinger is considered a front-runner for the American captaincy in '08. Is it possible that the new ABC broadcast partners will be squaring off against each other as Ryder Cup captains? Stay tuned.
More on the Ryder Cup
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