Friday, January 09, 2009

Lyle wants Langer AND three other vice-captains

if he gets the Ryder Cup captaincy in 2010

FROM THE GUARDIAN.CO.UK WEBSITE
Sandy Lyle has said he would like 2004 Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer to be one of his vice-captains should the Scot be given responsibility for leading the European team next year.
Lyle, the 1985 Open and 1988 Masters champion, is one of the front-runners for the job at Celtic Manor in 2010 as Europe look to reclaim the trophy they lost to the United States in September.
The European Tour's tournament committee is set to announce its decision during next week's Abu Dhabi Championship.
"There are bound to be a lot of different nationalities in the team, so somebody like Bernhard Langer I'd be very keen to have working with me," said Lyle. "He's so methodical. He would provide a lot of feedback into decision-making."
After Spaniard José María Olazábal again indicated this week he does not want the job for 2010, the way seems clear for the 50-year-old Lyle to take charge.
He is the only one of Europe's 'famous five' not to have had the captaincy and Lyle could now follow Seve Ballesteros, Langer, Ian Woosnam and Nick Faldo by taking the helm. With five Ryder Cups behind him as a player, Lyle certainly feels the time is right for him to step up.
"I can't see any reason why not me," he added. "As far as available captains go, there are not an awful lot around. I look like the favourable choice."
As well as Olazábal, Colin Montgomerie has ruled himself out of the 2010 captaincy, but Faldo and Woosnam have expressed a desire for a second term. It is Woosnam, Europe's winning captain in 2006, whom Lyle expects to be his closest rival.
"Obviously with Wales coming up, Woosie would be high in contention," conceded Lyle. "I'm still fairly well in touch with the present players, your Lee Westwoods, and the Darren Clarkes. If I do get selected I'll probably be playing much more in Europe on the seniors [tour] to keep an eye on the European players."
If Lyle does get the job he will not rely on just one vice-captain, as Faldo did with Olazábal when losing last year, instead reverting to a five-pronged attack, similar to when he served under Woosnam.
"We had four assistants in 2006 at the K Club, I was part of the four so I know that system works," he said. "You need to be in contact with the team at all times. Having a good back-up team is so important, not just when the tournament starts but in the breakfast room, the locker-room before players tee off. It's vital to have someone who's been there, done that, in the Ryder Cup."

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