Smyth enhances prospects of becoming Ryder Cup captain

THE campaign to ensure there will be an Irish captain when the Ryder Cup comes to Ireland in 2006 goes on unabated.

Darren Clarke, a likely member of that side, threw his weight behind Des Smyth at the weekend, and many others from outside this country are coming round to that way of thinking.

Although he himself tried to downplay the significance of his magnificent performance in the Open Championship at Muirfield, there can be no doubt that Des Smyth enhanced his prospects immeasurably through his achievements on and off the golf course. To lead the Open Championship well into the third day in appalling conditions is testimony to his quality as a player, while the press conferences he held at Muirfield confirmed the view that his type of friendliness and diplomacy, combined with his ability to fight his corner when any contentious issue rears its head, suggest that he is just the man for the job in these very testing times.

After his opening round of 68, Smyth came to the media centre and easily discussed his day with style and confidence, all without a sign of arrogance. As we trooped out, an English broadsheet journalist whispered: “that was very good, but he’s still not a Ryder Cup captain.” I turned and asked (a) why he should be thinking of that issue at all at such a time, and (b) why shouldn’t Smyth get the job. He first mumbled that everybody seems to be talking about it and that Smyth’s record as a player wasn’t good enough to warrant the honour ahead of so many others like Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie, Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam, to name but three, who will be entering the race come four years’ time. Like it or not, on our side of the Irish Sea, this is a view which is widely held not only in the UK but also throughout the European Tour. However, the best bet is that Woosnam, currently vice captain to Sam Torrance will be handed the role in the States in 2004 and then comes the battle for The K-Club.

Only a fool would dismiss Langer’s claims and that year would certainly appear to be well suited to his career progression. He is one of the hot favourites for 2006 and probably the man that Smyth and the other Irish candidates, Christy O’Connor Junior and Eamonn Darcy have most to fear from. What of Nick Faldo? He certainly has a magnificent record as a golfer, but his man management and relationship with the public and media are causes for concern. Or Colin Montgomerie? Not on your life. His behaviour at Muirfield was in stark contrast to that of Smyth. Whereas the Irishman accepted what the weather was throwing at him, Monty went into one of his rages and blamed the media for his woes. One journalist threatened to ask on Saturday: “eh, Colin, 74, 64, 84 so far, could it be 94 tomorrow?” Thankfully, he thought better of it, otherwise I fear they might at this very moment be fishing the remaining parts of his body out of the Firth of Forth! In fact, he managed a very moderate 75 in good scoring conditions on Sunday and as soon as he had signed his card, turned on the media and with bottom lip trembling, growled: “I am really hurt by it all and I am going to take a few weeks off. I did not storm off the course on Saturday. I am very disappointed at the way the press keep saying I have a bad temper on the golf course.” And then he lost it completely by adding: “I have not shown bad temper on the course for five years.” It is terribly sad that he should act like that, as there are times when Monty is such sweetness and light that you would welcome him into your home with open arms. But he is such a loose

cannon that he could not be trusted to do and say the right things in these days when diplomacy has almost as much a role to play as golfing nous where the cup captaincy is concerned.

Some have contrasted that kind of bizarre activity with the way Tiger Woods took his beating in Saturday’s storm. Tiger was simply terrific. People might do well to also compare Monty’s antics with the manner in which Des Smyth handled himself. You couldn’t but be impressed, and Darren Clarke, one of those likely to be in the European side four years hence, is very much in the Smyth camp. “I’ve said before that he should be the captain, so I don’t think what he has done in the Open should make any great difference,” he declared. “It’s great to see that Smythy has had such an Open. He would be an outstanding captain. He knows all the players. They all have great respect for him and he is probably one of the most popular guys on the tour. He’s been there before, he’s played Ryder Cup, what more could you want.” Smyth, of course, isn’t the only Irishman in the running for 2006. Christy O’Connor Junior certainly has his supporters, as does Eamonn Darcy.

Mind you, Darcy did make an honest and salient point at the European Open when he admitted staying in touch with the young players would present a problem now that he and Des are off to the seniors ranks and Junior is already there.

Furthermore, I would never advocate having an Irish captain just because the match is in Ireland. If that was to be the case and it was going to, say, Sweden instead, would that mean the likes of Anders Forsbrand should be appointed to the job. That would be a nonsensical road to go down. But O’Connor Junior is undoubtedly correct when he points out that an Irish captain in Ireland would generate fanatical support (of the right kind, of course) and would give the European team a huge psychological advantage.

But with moneyed men like Dr Michael Smurfit using his sponsorship of the European Open and general financial clout to pressurise Ken Schofield and Richard Hills at the European Tour and Des Smyth doing likewise with his superb achievements both on and off the golf course, it all makes for a fascinating debate leading up to the final announcement around this time next year.