Darren Clarke admits he still has much come September’s Ryder Cup despite leading Europe to a 13 point demolition of an Asian Tour team to win the EurAsia Cup in Kuala Lumpur.
Clarke’s 12-man team were never headed over the three days leading by three points after Friday’s opening Fourballs, six points after the second day Foursomes before winning nine of the Singles, sharing one other and losing on one match in continued sauna-like conditions on the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club course.
It is Clarke’s first taste of team leadership victory and with the Seve Trophy and Royal Trophy no longer on the European Tour schedule the Northern Irishman joins fellow and recent European Ryder Cup captains including Paul McGinley (Seve Trophy 2009 & 2011) and Colin Montgomerie (Seve Trophy 2002, 2003, 2005 & Royal Trophy 2010) to have won as a team captain ahead of captaining a Ryder Cup side.
2016 EurAsia Cup final scoreboard
“There is a lot of things I have learnt this week and time being one of them that I didn’t have an awful lot of,” said Clarke.
“But there is a lot of positives I can take from this week and looking towards some Ryder Cup things that are going to come together, I have also learnt a few things and hopefully I will do a better job whenever it comes to September.
“Though at the end of the day if your players don’t play or don’t perform you can be the best captain in the world but then you’re not going to win.
“But this week belongs to the players as they have just done fantastic as the quality of golf they have played has been impressive.”
Right from the outset all of Clarke’s dozen players have been praiseworthy of his captaincy including his two ‘wildcard’ picks in Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, and who Clarke indicated earlier in the week will be a part of his Hazeltine side whether competing or as one of five vice-captains that he is yet to announce.
Winning captain Darren Clarke savouring a massive 13 point triumph over the Asian Team.
“I have enjoyed this week immensely and it’s been a wonderful learning experience,” said Clarke.
“As everyone knows I have been around the game for a long time and done most things in the game, and also been fortunate to do so.
“But this week has been different with the guys seemingly keen to listen to what I have had to say and if my little part in this week has helped them along then well be it.
“We will now go back after this week and sit down with the European Tour what I did well as a captain and what I could have done better, and then work on those areas so that we can get the whole package even better come September.”
