TOM WATSON APPOINTMENT DOES NOT IMPRESS SANDY JONES

FROM TODAY'S SCOTTISH
 DAILY EXPRESS
By JOCK MacVICAR
Darren Clarke is adamant that "it is a brilliant move and great for the event."
Bernard Gallacher reckoned it was "an inspired choice" and Colin Montgomerie described it as "a coup."
But don't expect PGA chief executive Sandy Jones (pictured) to follow the party line and heap praise on the Americans for appointing Tom Watson as their Ryder Cup captain for the 2014 match at Gleneagles.
Jones claims the Americans have chosen Watson for the wrong reasons - that, mistakenly, they are obsessed with Tiger Woods and that the president of the PGA of America should not be making the decision.
Jones, a Scot, has also revealed whom he would like to lead Europe at Gleneagles.
"I don't get it," said Jones. "Yes, it's great for the Ryder Cup - and if I were just wearing my commercial hat, I would say that it was a great choice.
"But the Americans didn't make the decision for that reason. PGA of American president Ted Bishop said they were fed up getting their a**** kicked. The decision to appoint Tom Watson shows how desperate they are.
"I bow to Darren, Bernard and Colin. They have all been there and done it. I haven't and never will but I can't see it. I can't see the logic of it.
"And we should stop making out how inspired it is because it will give America an advantage at Gleneagles. I'm not in favour of that.
"What we should not be telling the world is that we are afraid of Tom Watson. Why do we have to consider changing our thinking on the European team captain, now Tom is the US captain?
"The European captain needs the belief of his players, whether it is Clarke, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Miguel Angel Jimenez or whoever. They need the players to believe in them."
Jones, who began his love affair with golf as a member at Mount Ellen GC, Glasgow, has been with the PGA for 32 years  first as the Scottish Region secretary, then as chief executive of the entire national association.
During that time, 16 Ryder Cups have been played and he has known 11 European team captains from John Jacobs to Jose Maria Olazabal.
Sandy's knowledge on the subject is extensive, his passion for the job undiminished.
"I don't get it for several reasons," he went on. "A nation the size of America with so many great champions should have plenty genuine contenders (to captain its Ryder Cup team)."
"Are they saying all their recent captains were losers? You're not going to tell me that Davis Love was not a fine captain.
"They're playing this thing that Tom Watson is the great winner and that other people aren't.
"In actual fact, at The Belfry in 1993, he was lucky to win. Bernard Gallacher was unlucky to lost it. Costantino Rocca three-putted and Chip Beck beat Barry Lane when he shouldn't have done. He was three down with five to play.
"So I'm not so sure that Watson (as a team captain) is a winner as much as people think. He's obviously won five Majors but is he a bigger winner as a captain than these other guys?
"I think the best captain America has had in recent times is Paul Azinger. If they had to go back, he was the man.
"I don't think the president of the PGA of America, who had never been outside the States until 2009, by the way, should be making the decision.
"I don't think I should be making the decision nor European Tour chief executive George O'Grady. In Europe it's the tournament committee that decides. It's the players' choice.
"There was criticism of Nick Faldo as Ryder Cup captain. Bue he had been a Major winner like Watson. Yet many people probably would suggest that Faldo has been Europe's worst captain.
Jones also believes America is wrong to be so obsessed with Woods.
"Take Watson and this engement with Tiger," said Jones. "Watson has been scathing on Tiger Woods in the past but at his receent press conference Toms says that if Tiger doesn't qualify (for automatic selection) he will be his first pick.
"Why would you say that 18 months before the event? Woods could be 25th in the world rankings by September 2014.
"What the Americans have done actually is to identify their weakness. They have identified it by showing that they are obsessed with Woods.
The European Tournament Committee will discuss the Ryder Cup captaincy in Abu Dhabi on January 15 although more time may be needed before a decision is made.
"Colin Montgomerie said that Watson's appointment should not colour our strategy and I agree with that," added Jones.       
"But I was with Paul Eales, who is on the tournament committee, and he said it (Tom Watson's appointment) changes what we are going to have to consider.
"He said we need someone who can counteract Tom. No, we need someone who can lead the team. I can understand the talk about the Monty factor for a match in Scotland but personally I still hope Paul McGinley gets it and I hope that Darren Clark gets it in America in 2016.
"Darren's style is a people's champion which the Americans engage with.
"I'd go for a double announcement: McGinley for Gleneagles and Clarke for Hazeltine."