Newly-appointed Darren Clarke says the 2016 Ryder Cup needs a fit Tiger Woods competing on the USA Team at Hazeline.

One of Clarke’s first task as the first Northern Ireland born European Team captain was to host a phone-in conference with members of the European Tour media.

While the five-man European Ryder Cup selection committee was meeting at Wentworth Clarke is in South Africa and having just played a practice round alongside his son Tyrone, an his playing partner in this week’s Sunshine Tour Dimension Data Pro-Am.

And while injury forced Woods out of last year’s Ryder Cup at Gleneagles Clarke said he would dearly love to see Woods competing at Hazeltine.

Newly-appointed European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke says he would love to see Tiger Woods competing in the 2016 Ryder Cup. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)

“Oh, I think everybody would love to see Tiger competing in the next Ryder Cup, wouldn’t they/” said Clarke.

“Tiger is still one of the biggest draws in the game of golf.  He’s a very special talent.  And I, for one, being not only a friend of his, but I have a huge amount of respect for his golf game, would love to see him getting back to playing the sort of golf that he can play.

“I think Tiger Woods on the team at Hazeltine would be a stronger team with him being on it.  You know, you want to go and compete against the strongest team possible, and a healthy Tiger Woods playing his best golf would certainly add to the whole event.”

And Clarke revealed the scenario in South Africa as he waited anxiously in the company of his wife, Alison and son for confirmation of his appointment.

“I played 18 holes quickly with Tyrone this morning on one of the golf courses that we have down here and came back again and was resting a little bit beside Alison and Tyrone waiting for the news,” he said.

“So it was a very long couple of hours.

“And was I expecting it?  No, I wasn’t, because I didn’t know what way the committee was going to vote.  Was I hoping it was going to me?  Then yes, obviously.  But I was obviously delighted when the call came through and they asked me to be Ryder Cup Captain.

“I was with Alison and Tyrone, and obviously they were ‑‑ Alison was as uptight as I was and Tyrone was just chilling and relaxing.  So obviously I was over the moon, as they were, too.”