Darren Clarke Set To Captain Team Europe At Gleneagles

It is being reported that Northern Irishman Darren Clarke will be offered the Ryder Cup captaincy for 2014 when the European Tour’s Ryder Cup committee announce their decision in January.

Although no formal announcement has been made, sources including the Daily Mail say the 44-year-old has already been approached by the European Tour and has indicated that he wants the job.

If chosen, Clarke will be the first Irishman to hold the post. However, the news will come as a bitter disappointment to Paul McGinley, the other outstanding front-runner and recent bookie’s favourite.

Both men were Vice-Captains at Medinah and Celtic Manor, but apparently the choice will come down to Clarke’s longer list of personal achievements and his higher media profile.

The speculation was fuelled further by Lee Westwood, speaking at the Turkish World Golf Finals, the world number four said: “‘If I were asked, it would be Darren. He has been a Ryder Cup stalwart for many years, is a major champion and a very good public speaker, which has to be taken into account. Tactically, he is very astute.”

Westwood continued that: “Paul is good in the team room, he makes a great Vice-Captain. But Paul has played three Ryder Cups. Darren has played five, won a major championship and a lot of tournaments worldwide. You have to have a criteria somewhere and he edges it for me.”

It is likely that Clarke would also be a popular public choice, having etched his name into Ryder Cup folk lore with his performance at the  K Club in 2006 when, just a month after the death of his wife, Heather, he put in one of the most poignant sporting displays imaginable in claiming three points out of three.

However, the plot thickened further when Clarke came out on Twitter to say: “To clarify I have not been offered the Ryder Cup captaincy. It’s not decided by the committee until January. Would be a huge honour if asked.”

Clarke was also originally out of favour for the 2014 berth, after he criticised the PGA National layout. But he recently admitted he had seen a “big improvement” in the state of the course’s greens and its redesigned 18th hole, and now senses his time has arrived to lead the European team.

“If I was asked to captain Europe in two years I definitely could not say ‘no’,” said Clarke. “I still dearly want make the team, but if it means going to Gleneagles as captain of the team and not a member of the team, then I would accept that as a huge honour.”