Ryder Cup decision due on Tuesday

Identity of new European captain expected after Abu Dhabi meeting

A decision on who will succeed Jose Maria Olazabal as Europe’s Ryder Cup captain is expected to be made tomorrow when the European Tour Players’ Committee meets to discuss the vacancy in Abu Dhabi.

The task of leading Europe’s defence of the iconic trophy at Gleneagles next year will be the main item on the agenda when the committee convenes in the UAE tomorrow, with Paul McGinley and Colin Montgomerie the two front-runners for the role after Darren Clarke all but ruled himself out of contention over the weekend.

“As much as I would dearly love to be captain, this may not be my time,” said the 44-year-old who won the Open in 2011. “I’m still wrestling with it. It’s a tough one for me, but to be honest I want to play golf.”

McGinley has long been expected to be the man handed the reins of the side, having twice been a vice-captain in the match and twice leading Great Britain & Ireland to victory over the Continent of Europe in the Seve Trophy.

However, the decision by the PGA of America to name 63-year-old Tom Watson as their captain has promoted some people to call for Europe to make a similarly high-profile appointment to counterbalance the Watson factor. That, in turn, has thrust 2010 winning captain Colin Montgomerie back into the mix, perhaps at the expense of 2002 match-winner McGinley.

Whilst having never openly canvassed for the post, Monty, pictured, has never made any secret of his desire to lead Europe at a venue which is literally on his doorstep and his odds have tumbled dramatically since Christmas.

Despite that, however, there is not much public support for the eight-time European Tour No.1 to return the post from his fellow players.

World No.1 Rory McIlroy tweeted another endorsement for McGinley over the weekend, saying: “Ryder Cup captaincy should be a one-time thing. Everybody deserving gets their chance and moves on. Would love to play under Paul McGinley in ’14.”

McIlroy’s Medinah team-mate Paul Lawrie also tweeted his opinion. “I hope the tournament commitee next week don’t feel they have to match up our captain to Tom Watson. Watson shouldn’t influence our decision,” he said, before adding: “Whichever way the tournament commitee go with vote for RC captain, Sam Torrance must be involved IMO .”

Another Scottish tour star, Alastair Forysth, tweeted bunkered to say: “Monty was an awesome captain but we have two excellent candidates in McGinley and Clarke so no need to look back.”

Whichever way the committee decides to go with its appointment, its chairman, Thomas Bjorn, is adamant that the decision won’t be influenced by Watson taking the helm of the US side.

Bjorn, himself an outside bet for the post, said: “As a committee voting for a new European captain, we don’t have to react to Tom Watson’s appointment as Europe’s record in past years is pretty impressive.”

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