CLARKE RULES HIMSELF OUT OF 2014 RYDER CUP CAPTAINCY

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE

 By JAMES CORRIGAN

Darren Clarke has taken himself out of contention to be Europe’s Ryder Cup captain at Gleneagles in 2014, leaving the way clear for Colin Montgomerie to be Paul McGinley’s main challenger in next week’s vote. 

Clarke believes he has one more shot at playing in the biennial match after making a return to form recently. The 44 year-old won the Open less than 18 months ago and feels he can add to his five previous playing appearances.

Although he has been consistent in saying that he would be honoured to be lead Europe one day, that day is now almost certain to be in 2016 in Minneapolis. After his 68 in the second-round of the Volvo Champions yesterday, Clarke said: “As much as I would dearly love to be captain, this may not be my time”.

Clarke employed cryptic language because this is not simply a case of withdrawing one’s candidature. It is not a role which can be applied for, but Telegraph Sport understands he has made his desire known to fellow members on the Tournament Players Committee who will choose Jose Maria Olazabal’s successor in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

The Northern Irishman’s decision must be respected and will surely serve as a rebuke to those critics who questioned his commitment to golf following his breakthrough at Sandwich in 2011. Clarke’s work-rate only increased as his form dropped off.

“When I was initially mentioned as a potential captain in October I wasn’t playing very well,” said Clarke. “I played much better at the end of last year and have been thinking long and hard about it all over the Christmas break.

“I won one of the biggest prizes in golf by winning The Open and I am exempt for another three years on the PGA Tour. If I was given the opportunity to do the captaincy I’d effectively be throwing two of those years away. It’s a tough one for me, but to be honest with you I want to play golf.”
Henrik Stenson, another member of the committee, hinted at how Clarke’s decision had changed the picture which will confront the 15 men in the UAE capital.
“I would have thought Darren and Paul are the two nominees but there has been some information in the last couple of days that we might consider it differently so I still think it’s more open,” said the Swede.
Speculation will now intensify on a remarkable return to the hot seat for Montgomerie, 28 months after his win at Celtic Manor. While McGinley is the obvious choice – having twice impressed as a Ryder Cup assistant captain as well as a winning Seve Trophy captain – there is a growing sense that Montgomerie, who turns 50, in June could be Europe’s first repeat captain since Bernard Gallacher in 1995.
This would inevitably be seen as a reaction to America reinstating Tom Watson, the last US captain to win on European soil, way back in 1993.
In December, the PGA of America shocked the game by opting for the five-time Open winner, after the US’s seventh loss in nine matches, at Medinah.
Montgomerie’s Perthshire estate is a few miles from Gleneagles and the Scot would guarantee a Tartan presence.
Thomas Bjorn, the chairman of the committee, could also come into captaincy consideration. 

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