Clarke gets Ryder team at the ready
DARREN CLARKE will name three of his Ryder Cup vice-captains at Wentworth next week as this year’s defence against the United States moves into sharper focus.
The Europe captain, an assistant to Colin Montgomerie at Celtic Manor in 2010 and Jose Maria Olazabal at Medinah in 2012, is ready to begin assembling the backbone of his management team four months out from Hazeltine.
Clarke wants five assistants – the same number Paul McGinley deployed at Gleneagles two years ago in what was widely regarded as the most detailed and professional European campaign in history – but is anxious to give candidates who could still make the team as players ample breathing space to do so.
He is likely to unveil experienced hands next week rather than fringe candidates to make the team as players.
McGinley named Sam Torrance and Des Smyth as assistants well before the event, with Padraig Harrington, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Olazabal added with less than a month to go.
While Harrington and Jimenez in particular were candidates to make the team as players in the summer of 2014, that is a good deal less likely now with Harrington the world No144 and Jimenez No152. The same applies to fellow Ryder Cup stalwarts Thomas Bjorn (No248) and Paul Lawrie (No368).
While the 2014 captain McGinley is not interested in an assistant’s role, Bjorn, the favourite to lead Europe in 2018 in France, is almost certain to be part of Clarke’s management team this time around.
Initial scepticism over whether Clarke would be suited to the role of Europe’s captain has dissipated with the fiery Ulsterman proving a model of diplomacy, a willing learner – he has sat in on Ulster rugby team meetings – and a good strategist so far.
Last week Clarke hosted two dinners in Sawgrass at the Players Championship – one for his Ryder Cup old guard and the other, 24 hours later, for rookies who are pushing for a place in the team.
To whet their collective appetites, the captain took along an image of the bag the players will be using if they make the team.
The power of the Ryder Cup remains strong for Europe and Clarke’s enthusiasm is only adding to it. The trophy will be on show at the K Club at this week’s Irish Open.
Another curiosity in Kildare will be South Korean Wang JeungHun, 20, who is threatening to become the first player since Seve Ballesteros in 1986 to win three successive European Tour events.
Wang, whose name translates as ‘King’, has shot up to No70 after victory at the Trophee Hassan II in Morocco and the Mauritius Open over the past fortnight.
He said: “I hope I can win three in a row, but next week is a really big tournament and it’s my first time in Ireland.”