Langer names Swedish pair as Ryder Cup assistants

BERNHARD LANGER has named Swedes Anders Forsbrand and Joakim Haeggman as his two assistants for September's Ryder Cup in Detroit.

Former World and Dunhill Cup winner Forsbrand, no longer a full member of the European tour, was unveiled as second-in-command.

Langer, influential in Forsbrand becoming a born-again Christian in 1995, said: "In my opinion it is imperative to have a vice-captain with whom both I and all the players feel extremely comfortable and Anders was my first choice.

"He has enormous respect throughout the world of golf and a wealth of experience when it comes to international matches. We have been friends for a number of years and get along very well. I need somebody to bounce ideas off. I will be honest with him and he will be honest with me."

"I'm so excited at the thought of being at Oakland Hills," said 42-year-old Forsbrand. "If there is one ambition that I have not fulfilled in 20 years as a professional then it is being on a Ryder Cup team."

Haeggman, who in 1993 became the first Swede to play in the match, was part of Sam Torrance's backroom team for the win at The Belfry two years ago and will fill the same role providing he does not force his way back into the line-up.

The odds on that came down two weeks ago when he won the Qatar Masters and Langer accepts he will have to find a replacement should Haeggman win a second cap.

However, Langer has totally ruled out giving up the captaincy and playing himself.

After the 46-year-old took on the job last July he hinted there might be circumstances where he would want to add to his 10 appearances.

Langer has made a bright start to the US Tour season, but stated: "I'm not going to play even if I win the Masters. Once I realised how much work went into it and how involved I was getting it became clear that this [captaincy] is what I want. I've made up my mind and I think I've made the right decision."

Opposite number Hal Sutton has already picked his helpers Steve Jones, winner of the 1996 US Open at Oakland Hills, and to the huge surprise of many, 81-year-old Jack Burke who lifted the Masters and US PGA way back in 1956 before Langer was even born.

The race for places in the European side is nearly at the halfway stage and at the moment stars like Colin Montgomerie, Sergio Garcia, Thomas Bjorn, Paul Casey, Jesper Parnevik, Justin Rose, Luke Donald and 2002 heroes Paul McGinley and Phillip Price are outside automatic places.

Langer, who will have just two wild cards to hand out, admits he would have preferred more and also that he wanted five spots to be awarded by a world ranking average rather than total points earned. The system could reward quantity ahead of quality.