Langer gives Irish prospects of Ryder Cup captaincy a lift
Much and all as one would have liked to see Des Smyth or Christy O'Connor Junior at the helm in two years time, it appeared reasonable that the leader should be an individual in touch with the many young players sure to be pushing for places.
O'Connor will be 58 in two years time while Smyth will be 54. That means they would not have competed on the regular tour for eight and four years respectively and accordingly would be out of contact with younger players like Paul Casey, Justin Rose, Ian Poulter and others likely to push for places.
However, Langer's decision to call up Anders Forsbrand as his vice-captain at Oakland Hills in September suggests the situation is a lot more fluid than we might have imagined.
True, at 43, Forsbrand has age very much on his side but on the face of it, not a whole lot more. The Swede has lived full-time in Ponte Vedra, Florida, for the past three years. He last figured in the top 50 in the European Tour order of merit in 1997 when he was 44th.
And he has never played in the Ryder Cup.
His appointment as vice-captain by Langer was greeted with astonishment in most quarters and caused endless speculation as to the reasoning.
There are two apparent explanations. Firstly and the most obvious is that Langer and Forsbrand both live in Florida but more interestingly, Forsbrand, after being something of a firebrand for many years, has become a Born Again Christian, a philosophy close to Langer's heart.
Whatever the explanation, both have developed a close friendship. It's a strange situation when the captain and vice-captain of the European team live in the land of the "enemy" as Langer plays 90% of his golf in the United States, Forsbrand hardly plays at all.
Given that benchmark, why then can't Christy O'Connor, Des Smyth, Eamonn Darcy, Ronan Rafferty and Philip Walton be considered for either the captaincy or subsidiary role when the Ryder Cup is played out on Irish soil in two years time. All five have experience of competing in the matches. They all live on this side of the Atlantic and at least three of the quintet have thrown their hats officially into the ring.
Joakim Haeggman, who was a member of Sam Torrance's back-up team at The Belfry in 2002, has been retained by Langer in a similar role for this year's renewal. There should be no argument there, given that Haeggman was the first Swede to play in the Ryder Cup in 1993 and captured the Qatar Masters earlier this season.
His are impeccable credentials, it must be agreed. Except he has just come out with some extraordinary comments to justify Forsbrand's appointment and also to explain what the role of the assistants to the captain implies.
"The appointment of Anders Forsbrand was an interesting choice but he has been friends with Bernhard for a long time," said Haeggman. "One of the main reasons has to be that Anders lives out in America and will have a chance to go and see all the players.
"As the years have progressed, we have had more and more players in the United States, so he can look after them through the summer and see how they do, and he can also go to Oakland Hills on a regular basis.
"Whatever the players want, you do. If they want a clean pair of socks, you get it. If they want a three wood or tickets for their wives, that is what you do because you have to keep them happy to let them focus on their game.
"Anything Bernhard wants me to do, I will do."
An intoxicating mix, to be sure. Interesting, though, isn't it, that while Langer and Forsbrand may swan around the States throughout the summer, richly talented team candidates like Luke Donald will be prevented from playing in the match because of spending most of their time in America.
It appears the rules of the European Tour insist that a Ryder Cup player must contest at least 11 qualifying tournaments to be eligible for selection.
Donald, like the captain and vice captain, has made his home in the United States and because he wants to keep his playing privileges there, is unable to find time to comply with this regulation. One rule for the captains, another for the players.
Messrs O'Connor and Smyth, to name but two Irishmen, are watching developments very carefully.
And the more of what they see, the more convinced they are of their legitimate claims to a very close involvement with the European team in 2006.
The support of the home crowd is invariably crucial in deciding the outcome of the Ryder Cup. Irish fans will get behind the home side no matter what. Of that there is no doubt.
But if "Junior" or "Smythy" or "Darce" is seen to have a leading role and riding around the fairways of The K-Club in the captain's buggy, well then you can only imagine the roar that will go up and the excitement it will cause. 2006 is not a done deal just yet.
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