The Grove, Watford, England …

European Ryder Cup officials look set to bring forward the date of selecting a 2018 Captain but not to be seen in any way a reaction to Europe’s six-point Hazeltine defeat at the hands of the Americans.

The appointment of a new European Team captain has customary always taken place in late January and some 20 months ahead of the Ryder Cup.

Former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley hinting the appointment to Darren Clarke could be made prior to Christmas. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

However, 2014 European Captain Paul McGinley hinted the process of selecting the 2018 European Team captain is more than likely to be brought forward to just prior to Christmas and a good month earlier than normal.

Joining McGinley in appointing a new Captain will be European Tour CEO Keith Pelley along with losing Hazeltine Captain, Darren Clarke plus a Tournament Players Committee representative.

“Generally, Europe appoint a new captain the other side of Christmas and it depends on our schedules but then there is a lot of work to do if Europe is going to win the next Ryder Cup, and having a captain in place is a big part of that,” said McGinley.

“So we may bring that decision forward and though it’s not decision, that would be my view.

“We do need to get the ball rolling quickly with a new captain if we are going to win back that Ryder Cup.”

Fellow Irishman Graeme McDowell, who missed out on selection for Hazeltine, confirmed he had also understood a new Captain could be in place before the New Year.

“I heard Darren (Clarke) say that one of his pieces of advice was to get the captain picked a little earlier,” said McDowell.

“I think this time around it’s maybe important to put Hazeltine behind us and start focusing on France, so maybe announcing a captain and bring that process forward and start to rebuild.

“There’s nothing really that has to happen to our template. We have a good template”.

Thomas Bjorn, as Chairman of the Tournament Players Committee, is expected to take over from Clarke and will certainly have McGinley’s vote given the Dane was so supportive of McGinley when Colin Montgomerie became a late candidate for the Gleneagles captaincy.

But McGinley, and ever the diplomat, would not go as far to rubber stamp Bjorn as his choice.

“We have to put all our cards on the table while there is a lot of information to gather, and like the last time, I have a lot of players to speak to that will help me formulate my own ideas,” he said.

McGinley and McDowell were commenting after the second round of the British Masters and with McGinley signing for a four-under par 67 to move to five under par while McDowell shot a second straight 68 to be a six under par.