Bernhard: I may captain in 2018

BERNHARD LANGER has refused to rule out the possibility of being Ryder Cup captain again at the age of 61 in 2018.

Germany is among six countries bidding to stage that year’s match and when asked yesterday whether he would be interested in leading the side if they are chosen, Langer replied: “If they (the Ryder Cup Committee) think I am still mentally with it and I haven’t lost my marbles and I’m still capable of communicating and doing a good job, then maybe so.

“Why do you think I’m in the fitness room all the time?”

The double Masters champion, now the leading money-winner on the American Seniors Tour, was an outstanding captain in Detroit in 2004, leading the side to a record nine-point victory.

It seems unlikely he would be re-appointed, however.

Nick Faldo was 51 when he did the job last September and after the defeat in Louisville, Europe decided there were advantages in having an active player in charge and appointed Colin Montgomerie for next year’s match in Wales.

The Ryder Cup goes to Gleneagles in Scotland in 2014 before crossing the channel again.

Germany are now having their own bid process to choose which of six courses would host the match – Rosa Resort in Bad Saarow, Green Eagles in Winsen, Munchen-Valley in Munich, Gut Kaden in Hamburg, Schloss Beberbeck in Hofgeismar and Wittelsbacher Ausgleichsfond in Neuburg.

This weekend could see Langer become the oldest winner in European Tour history. After two rounds of 68 he is four behind Retief Goosen at the halfway point of the BMW International Open in Munich.