Woosie should succeed me as Ryder Cup chief, says Sam

SAM TORRANCE believes Ian Woosnam should succeed him as Ryder Cup captain for the 2004 contest at Oakland Hills in Michigan.

Woosnam has stated he would like to wait until the contest is staged in Wales for the first time, at Celtic Manor in 2010, before taking on the role. But Torrance believes that would be too late for his vice-captain at The Belfry, for the same reasons he has declined the possibility of captaining the team again in two years.

''I honestly believe I wouldn't be the right man for the job and that's the most important factor,'' said Torrance, who himself went from vice-captain under Mark James in 1999 to victorious skipper in 2002.

''I'd have been two years on the senior tour, I would have some rapport with some of the team but not the whole lot of them, not watching them week in, week out. I couldn't create the same atmosphere. It's someone that has to be still playing on the tour.

''(Bernhard) Langer and Woosie are both playing well enough to make the next team, they have to decide. Woosie definitely deserves the captaincy and so does Langer. But I wouldn't like to see Woosie wait until Wales. He'd be 52 then, he'd be in the same situation as I would be in in the next one, and I think he should be the next captain.

''He was a fantastic vice-captain, he was great with the players, but he is tenacious and he will want to play again so it will be a tough decision for him.

''He told me on the Sunday night he wanted to wait until Wales and I didn't think it was right. I can't see him being on the main tour then and he would lose the rapport with the players. It's all very well thinking 'Wales would be great for me,' but I think he would be the best man next time in America. He would be a great captain. I would hate to see him not take it and lose his chance when Wales came around. It wouldn't be right.''

Langer had emerged as an odds-on favourite to captain the side after Nick Faldo withdrew his unofficial application last week, the German admitting he would be giving it serious consideration over the winter.

But Torrance believes there is nothing to stop the 45-year-old from qualifying to play in the next team and so equal Faldo's record of 11 appearances.

''Langer is certainly fit enough, and he's certainly good enough, and I'm almost certain he wants that record,'' added Torrance ahead of his first competitive outing since the Belfry at the Lancome Trophy in Paris.

''There is no rush to name the captain if Woosie and Langer want to try and qualify for the team, the qualifying period does not start until September. They could delay the decision if both Woosie and Langer ask for it.

''They will both know a lot more by this time next year having played another year.''

The selection process for the next few European captains is threatening to become a complicated affair with so many credible candidates vying for the role.

If Woosnam were to become captain in 2004, that would mean Langer's next opportunity would be in 2006, but the matches will be staged in Ireland and the pressure will mount for an Irish captain Des Smyth being the frontrunner at the K Club. The names of Faldo and Colin Montgomerie also come into the equation, and by 2008 Langer would be 51 and presumably not playing on the main tour, a major criteria as far as Torrance is concerned. For now, though, Torrance is happy to be back to concentrating on his game after shaking off a chest infection that saw him spend last weekend in bed.

''I would like to perform well on the main tour before I go on the seniors tour,'' added Torrance, who will qualify for the seniors on his 50th birthday next August.

''I certainly feel I can compete now my mind is free. The Ryder Cup is done now, it was fantastic but it's gone and I have to get on with what I do, which is play. And I'm really looking forward to it.'' Four of the victorious Ryder Cup team are competing at St Nom La Breteche Sergio Garcia, Colin Montgomerie, Paul McGinley and Thomas Bjorn with Garcia defending the title he won in dramatic circumstances 12 months ago.

Garcia came from four behind with four holes to play with three birdies in a row from the 15th to beat Retief Goosen by a stroke, preventing the former US Open champion from successfully defending his title.

The Spaniard played down criticism of his celebrations on the 18th at the Belfry after Paul McGinley had holed the winning putt.