Double Major winning John Daly has poured cold water on the setting up of a USA Ryder Cup task force and declaring either Phil Mickelson or Tiger Woods should lead the American team in 2016 at Hazeltine.

Daly, who posted an opening round of 69 in the Turkish Airlines Open, captured the 1991 PGA Championship and 1995 British Open but remains the only American-born major winner not to compete in a Ryder Cup.

However Daly has been around long enough he says the answer to the USA Team ending a run of having lost the past three Ryder Cup’s does not lie with a ‘task force’.

“I don’t know where they’re going with a task force, I really don’t as they should just go ahead and pick a captain,” he said.

John Daly says the USA Ryder Cup task force is a waste of time & just appoint either Phil Mickelson or Tiger Woods as a playing captain for 2016 Ryder Cup. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

“My view is that Phil Mickelson should be the next captain and play at Hazeltine.

“Phil seems to thrive on Ryder Cup competition, does well when he plays.  He knows everything about the Ryder Cup so maybe it should him or Tiger who should be the next captain.

“We’ve had playing captains over the years, so why not in 2016.”

And while Daly has never tasted Ryder Cup competition, he believes he could still contribute to the American Ryder Cup cause.

“I know I will never be a captain but it would be fun and an experience if I could be involved in some way as I could keep the guys loose and ensure they have a bit of fun,” he said.

“But then if they picked Phil he will have a full team respect and especially in that form of competition.

John Daly speaking after his opening round 69 in the Turkish Airlines Open. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

“He knows the workings of the PGA of America given he’s been a three-times PGA Champion, so he would be a great player.

“And it’s not rocket science why the European Team has been winning and it doesn’t need a task force to work it out.”

Daly is competing on an invitation in Turkey and in his final event of the year after sharing 29th place in last week’s PGA Tour’s Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Mississippi.

Next April Daly will turn 49 and three months ahead of the 20-year anniversary of his play-off victory in the 1995 British Open at St. Andrews where the 2015 championship is to be staged.

“I’m just looking forward to going back to St. Andrews so much and since they adopted this five year rotation of playing the Old Course, it’s been great,” he said.

“I just love St. Andrews so much whether I play good or bad as it’s my favourite golf course.

“And I feel is there is a Major Championship I can still win, and I am only into two Majors, it would be at St. Andrews.

“It’s the only tournament I can go into whether it’s blowing or not that I honesty feel I have the chance of doing well as it just suits my game so much.”