European Ryder Cup captain: Lee Westwood rules out role; backs Padraig Harrington
Lee Westwood has ruled himself out of the running to be the next European Ryder Cup captain, as both he and Thomas Bjorn added to the chorus of backers for Padraig Harrington.
Westwood will be 47 by the time of the 2020 Ryder Cup but has not given up hope of equalling Nick Faldo's record of 11 appearances in the event as a player.
Rory McIlry and Justin Rose have already voiced their support for Harrington to lead the team at Whistling Straits in two years, and now Westwood has added his backing as it looks more and more like a formality that Harrington will ge tthe nod.
"I won't be putting my name forward for this one, I'd prefer do it in Rome if possible," the former world number one told Sky Sports News. "That would be great, I'd very keen on doing it there. I'd like to be playing in two years' time. I think Padraig Harrington is the ideal candidate for the captaincy.
"He is the right age (47) and he's still in touch with the players because he's still playing out here. He's also very high-profile in the States, where he has won a major championship.
"I just think Padraig is the better candidate for the next one than me, and we need to pick the best man for the job."
Bjorn also backing Harrington
After leading the Europeans to a brilliant triumph in paris, Bjorn believes there is no need to rush into naming his successor as Ryder Cup captain, even if Harrington appears certain to be handed the role.
The captain is selected by a panel comprising the previous three captains - Bjorn, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley - European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley and a member of the Tour's Players Committee.
The panel is due to meet in December, but Bjorn does not feel it is necessary to make the decision so far in advance.
"As much as when we lose, we try and just calm ourselves down, I think we also need to calm ourselves down when we win," Bjorn said. "We've got to let these 12 players enjoy this Ryder Cup and what was 2018 in Paris before we start looking forward to Whistling Straits.
"You can make these decisions too quickly and there's plenty of time. I think I found being announced as captain on the sixth of December in 2016, maybe having that role was a little bit too long for me in the sense that you're so eager to get going and there's nothing to get going with.
"You feel like you're talking to people that are still coming down from a Ryder Cup that's just happened. The system is not quite there to support you as an incoming captain, so my recommendation is don't make this decision too quickly because there's no point.
"You're not helping the incoming captain by making the decision too soon."
Harrington has the right credentials
As for Harrington's captaincy credentials, Bjorn added: "I've always said when you've got somebody that's a three-time major champion and has the pedigree that Padraig has and holds the respect of the players that he does, it would be difficult to see him not doing it at some stage.
"And if he wants it this time around, it's difficult to get around that he is very much the favourite to get the job.
"He has a great relationship with the players on the PGA Tour for all the years he's played there. He's a past US PGA champion, which helps in the relationship with the PGA of America, and Ireland does have a special relationship with the Americans.
"So there's a lot of things that plays into his hands to being a captain in America."
Related golf links
MOST READ
Next Off
Fixtures & Results
