Tiger Woods is now backing good friend, Darren Clarke to be appointed as Europe’s next Ryder Cup captain.

Woods has been a close companion of Clarke’s and with the 14-time Major Champion very helpful some years back in supporting Clarke when the Northern Irishman’s  first wife, Heather passed away weeks prior to 2006 Ryder Cup in Ireland.

Darren Clarke tees off the 18th in Portugal while Tiger Woods competing in Turkey is backing the Northern Irishman for the 2014 Ryder Cup captaincy. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)

“I’m not sure what the process is but if Darren is selected he would make a great captain,” said Woods.

“He’s one of my best friends out here and he’s a great guy. He’d make a great leader.”

A day earlier, Lee Westwood went public in backing also his close friend and long-time European Ryder Cup team mate.

However with the selection of the 2014 European Team captain not to be formalised to next February, the European Tour went to the trouble of issuing a statement in an endeavour to discourage further comment on the captaincy.

Richard Hills, the Ryder Cup Director, said:  “No decision on the European Captain for The 2014 Ryder Cup has been taken and none will be taken until at the earliest when the Tournament Committee next meets most probably during the Middle East swing in early 2013.”