If talk circulating the Durban Country Club is correct than Paul McGinley could be elected unopposed at next Tuesday’s 2014 Ryder Cup captaincy selection meeting.

It was committee man Henrik Stenson who indicated:  “I would have thought Darren (Clarke) and Paul (McGinley) 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.”

Darren Clarke considering standing down from 2014 Ryder Cup captaincy vote. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)

If so, that ‘information’ could relate to Darren Clarke and with Clarke agreeing now to accept the appointment to lead Europe in 2016. 

Clarke ended 2012 with his best result since capturing the 2011 Open Championship with an eighth place finish in the Australian PGA Championship.

And while he posted a no frills opening round 75 the Northern Irishman is having second thoughts about next week’s Tournament Players Committee meeting that will choose a replacement for Medinah miracle worker, Jose Maria Olazabal.

“I played my best golf for about 18 months towards the end of last year,” said Clarke

“If they asked me to do it in Gleneagles it would be a difficult decision.”

 Clarke’s quotes appear in The Sun newspaper and have been lifted by ESPN.co.uk