Darren Clarke seems far from a ‘shoo-in’ for the 2016 Ryder Cup captaincy vote after Miguel Angel Jimenez refuted claims in a Spanish newspaper he was not interested in leading a European Team.
The pony-tailed Malaga-born golfer straightened out what he was says was an incorrect English translation of the article ahead of teeing up in this week’s 10th anniversary Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Jimenez was chomping on a cigar as he worked on his putting when asked to answer either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the newspaper report and he then left no doubt as to his intentions.
“I did not say that I did want the Ryder Cup captaincy,” he said.
“I would not say that because I want it …(now taking his cigar from his mouth) … with a passion.”
Miguel Angel Jimenez refutes claims he is not a 2016 Ryder Cup captaincy candidate.(Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
The new-look five-man selection committee, comprising the past three Ryder Cup captains, along with Tour CEO George O’Grady and Players Committee member, David Howell will meet at Wentworth in the week after next fortnight’s Dubai Desert Classic to choose a successor to Paul McGinley.
As well, the 2016 captaincy vote is on the agenda for discussion at next week’s Tournament Players Committee meeting in Doha and venue for the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
Given Jimenez is now a candidate Clarke’s leadership thrust has received a serious jolt and with Jimenez seemingly already enjoying two of the five votes and needing just one more for a majority.
One would expect Jimenez to receive the vote of Jose Maria Olazabal and possibly Paul McGinley, should McGinley hold any grudges over the push against him to appoint Clarke for the 2014 captaincy.
Double Major winning Martin Kaymer, who was unaware of Jimenez’s revelation, supports Clarke being offered the role despite confessing he hardly knows the Ulsterman.
“My first question who will be the alternative to Darren because everyone has been mentioning Darren but then I know Miguel Angel Jimenez spoke to a Spanish newspaper that he was almost putting himself out of the captaincy vote,” said Kaymer.
“But then Darren would be the likely choice, I believe but that doesn’t seem to be a question any more.
“However I don’t know Darren really that well and only through his involvement in the Ryder Cup and whether he’s a good captain or not, I have no idea.
“I do know he’s a nice man and he’s very generous and very helpful in offering advice, so I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t be European captain next year, and I hope he does get the position.
“However I really have not been thinking about the 2016 Ryder Cup and I really didn’t know where it was being held until I played in the Pro—Am this morning and one of the fellows in our group was from Hazeltine (smiling).”
Kaymer is returning to competition in an event he has won three times in the past, and revealing he took up skiing for a first time in having spent a week in Italy over the festive break.
And the reigning US Open and Players Championship title holder continued to sing the praise of McGinley, the victorious Gleneagles captain suggesting he was so well organised in leading Europe to victory he must be part German.
“I have played in only three Ryder Cups and I have to say Monty was good, Olazabal was good but Paul was exceptional,” said Kaymer.
“Even nearly four months later if you went looking for negatives, there is none obvious so maybe Paul should be quarter German because for me he was great and that’s why we got along so well”.
