Sam Torrance named Ryder Cup vice-captain

• Sam Torrance revealed as fifth and final Ryder Cup vice-captain
• The 62-year-old led Europe to victory at The Belfry in 2002
• “I am very proud to be part of the backroom team,” he said

Sam Torrance has been named as the fifth and final vice-captain for the upcoming Ryder Cup match against the United States at Hazeltine in September.

The 62-year-old Scot, who played in Europe on eight occasions between 1981 and 1995, led Europe to victory at The Belfry in 2002 and has since provided invaluable assistance as a vice-captain to both Mark James (1999) and more recently Paul McGinley at Gleneagles in 2014.

Sam Torrance joins Thomas Bjørn, Padraig Harrington, Paul Lawrie and Ian Poulter in the backroom team bound for Minnesota and couldn’t hide his delight after being asked by captain Darren Clarke.

“It goes without saying that I am very proud to be part of the backroom team for the 2016 Ryder Cup,” said Sam Torrance. “It is a tremendous honour and as soon as Darren asked me, I had no hesitation in saying yes.

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“I have known Darren for many years and have great respect for him and all that he has achieved in the game. I think you can see in all the hard work and attention to detail he has put in already that he will be a great captain and he knows he can count on me to be of service to the team in any way I can.

“Obviously the Ryder Cup has been hugely important to me in my career, both as a player and a captain, and I am therefore really looking forward to adding another chapter to the story at Hazeltine.”

Sam Torrance still holds the record number of European Tour appearances with 706 and also knows what it takes to succeed in the Ryder Cup arena in the US, having been part of the team which won at Muirfield Village in 1987, with the 15-13 success representing Europe’s first triumph on American soil.

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Captain Clarke said: “I am absolutely delighted to name Sam as my fifth and final vice-captain for the match at Hazeltine. There is nothing in terms of the Ryder Cup that he hasn’t seen, done, or been part of since he first played in the contest 35 years ago and I know that experience will be vital to everyone involved with Team Europe this time round.

“On a personal level, I have known Sam virtually my entire golfing career, as well as being coached by his late father Bob for many years. I have tremendous respect for Sam as a person and in terms of the Ryder Cup, he was a fantastic captain in 2002. I know he will bring that same knowledge and guile again this time round.”

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Sam Torrance :: Final vice-captain

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