Langer a gimme for 2006 captaincy
How could anybody in their proper senses discard such a masterly operative after he conducted the merciless destruction of hapless Hal Sutton and his un-merry men over the past three days. With every aspect of his work, with every word he spoke, the German demonstrated what a class act he is. Had the 35th Ryder Cup match been confined to a contest between the two captains, it would have been an absolute rout.
Once the eras of Tony Jacklin and Bernard Gallagher came to an end, it has been the consensus among the leading European Tour officials that the captaincy should be spread around among a number of worthy candidates. Seve Ballesteros took over in 1997, Mark James in 1999 and Sam Torrance in 2002. All did well in their own way but there was never any serious suggestion that they should be given a second term, and to be fair none of them actually seemed to want to go again.
Now Langer is the incumbent and he, too, intends to stand down after this one term. He more or less said so over the weekend, although he did leave the door slightly ajar when commenting that "for me to go as captain again is very, very unlikely because I think we have a lot of guys waiting to get the job. Do this again and somebody might miss out. So that's my thinking right now."
Langer, of course, is correct when he points to those waiting behind him, people like Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam and maybe even Jose-Maria Olazabal and Colin Montgomerie of the younger candidates. But consider each individually and you come up with a series of insurmountable obstacles.
Faldo is not particularly popular with a lot of players. Many find him distant and arrogant. Woosie is a great fellow in many ways but he has blotted his copybook too often for the liking of the Wentworth blazers. Olazabal doesn't appear to have the remotest interest in having anything to do with a tournament he once graced as Seve's partner while Montgomerie, who will undoubtedly be handed the job some day, is more likely to required as a playing member in '06.
Irish people will, understandably, make a strong case for an Irish captain but you can take it now that it's not going to happen. An Irish captain at an Irish venue is highly desirable but as things stand, we don't have a man of the right age and status with a Ryder Cup background. Christy O'Connor Jr, Eamon Darcy, Des Smyth and Ronan Rafferty are names that spring to mind. Their birth dates and the length of time they have been away from the regular tour will rule them out. Rafferty's apparent indifference can be placed in the same category as Olalzabal.
For me, that leaves only Langer. He has proved himself beyond doubt in Detroit and with the likes of Smyth and O'Connor among his back-up squad, I don't believe you could want for a better team.
The US, on the other hand, are already distancing themselves from Hal Sutton, whose Texan bravura went down a treat initially with bullish Americans who never countenanced the possibility of losing the Ryder Cup on home territory to a bunch of perceived European journeymen. With the writing on the wall, though, they turned on him.
The American papers had unsheathed their swords before yesterday's final round of singles got under way. It wasn't just Sutton who was seeking to avoid the fatal wounds. Phil Mickelson was another target. "It's difficult to defend Mickelson" roared the local Oakland Express. "He made his own bed by not playing practice rounds Wednesday and Thursday, and by changing his woods so close to such an important event. But Tiger Woods isn't exactly the consummate team player, either. His attitude epitomises what's wrong with the United States in this event."
Woods is widely accused of "sulking". It's been pointed out how he lost two key matches because he had proved his point about Mickelson. And yet, it's not as if he's playing any better. Woods, 2nd in the world, Davis Love, 6th in the rankings, won the first two holes against Paul McGinley and Pádraig Harrington on Saturday. By rights, they should have strolled home from there. Instead, the two Irishmen played for each other as if their lives depended on it and closed out the encounter by 4 and 3.
"Ultimately the finger of blame goes to Sutton", says the Oakland Press. "He put Woods and Mickelson in that position. He said it was because the world demanded it and Tiger and Mickelson themselves wanted it. The latter part was a lie. It was the last thing either wanted."
You could search up every tree in Detroit this week-end and you won't hear anybody, player or fan, have a good word to say about Hal Sutton. Contrast that with the plaudits being lavished on Langer. Paul McGinley spoke of how "he's a very well organised and structured individual who leaves nothing to chance. We've gained from his presence on the course. He's given advice about course management and club selection and pin position all the way around. He's got a strong team. We're strong 1 to 12. It makes his job difficult in one way but easier in terms of picking pairings."
Pádraig Harrington reported how he was "reprimanded" for hitting a three wood in the water at the 3rd on the first day and of how Langer had come up through the days "to tell him which club to play, where to hit it and why to hit it there. He's been there at all the par threes describing exactly what was needed.
"Obviously he says it in a nice way. It's very calm and cool when he's saying it. It's not like he's telling you to do it but he's definitely advising you."
Asked how you avoid crossing the line between helping a player and distracting him, Langer admitted it was 'a very fine line'.
"I talked to them before we started the matches. I talked to them in the team room and told them what I think is best. They like the idea of me being out there telling them where the best place is to place the ball on a certain green, to have an easier putt or to have an easier opportunity to get it up and down or making birdie.
"I will give you an example. McGinley played short of the flag at the 13th in Friday's foursomes. He left a very long put but at least we had a putt. Tiger hit a what looked like a decent shot but it went long and you can't go long there. He plugged his ball in the back bunker. You cannot hit it in certain places."
Langer is the kind of man who won't avoid the most pointed question while careful not to say anything that could be interpreted as disrespectful or critical of his opposite number or an American player. "I can't talk for Hal", he says. "I don't want to compare myself with Hal. I have a lot of respect for him."
It was when he added that "I think he's doing a great job" that one of the biggest gasps of the day went up from the assembled media - and those gasping were all Americans. Even as the Mark O'Meara bandwagon for the US captaincy at The K-Club clicks into life, Europeans will also mull over the best man to lead them in 2006.
After what we have witnessed this week, can anyone look beyond Bernhard Langer.
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