Darren Clarke hopes to lead the European Ryder Cup team in 2016 at Hazeltine, and is delighted to receive the support from Tiger Woods recently.
Woods adds his name to Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, Justin Rose, Lee Westwood, and Ian Poulter — all of whom hope to see Clarke succeed Paul McGinley.
“It’s true Darren and I go back a long way, all the way back to when both he and I were working with Butch [Harmon] and that’s back to around 2000, so I’ve known Darren a long time,” Woods, a member of the U.S. Ryder Cup task force formed to determine how to beat the Euros, told the Irish Examiner earlier this month. “If I make the 2016 U.S. Ryder Cup team, and that’s the goal, then I think it would be fun to be in a U.S. team with Darren as the rival European team captain because I’ve played with him and against him and we’ve always had a blast.”
Woods watched from his couch the Ryder Cup this year at Gleneagles and is now part of the PGA of America panel formed in the wake of that US defeat.
Clarke, a playing member on five consecutive European Ryder Cup teams as well as vice-captain in 2010 and 2012, appreciated Woods’ support.
“Obviously, it’s something I would love to do,” Clarke said Wednesday ahead of the Asian Tour’s inaugural Dubai Open. “But it’s not something you petition for. My name was been put forward and I’m in the running for it. I would love to do it, but it’s up to the committee to decide.”
With the formalities out of the way, Clarke conceded that he welcomed the kind words from the 14-time major champion.
“With the best player in the world for a long time [saying] it would be a blast, that's high praise,” Clarke said. “Tiger’s a good friend and we’ve known each other [a long time]. “But there are a few other guys up for it. Whoever the committee decides will be captain … I’m sure will be a great captain.”
As for whom captain Clarke might add to his inner circle, it probably would not be Woods.
“I think it might cause a bit of a stir if I asked him to be one of the vice-captains,” Clarke quipped, “so I think I'd better not.”
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