Clarke taking first steps to Ryder Cup captaincy

Four years after being snubbed by then European captain Nick Faldo, Darren Clarke will return next week to Gleneagles taking the first steps to the 2014 Ryder Cup captaincy.

Clarke is set to be named later this month (August 27) as one of Jose Maria Olazabal’s four Medinah vice-captains before the real likelihood now of returning to Scotland in 2014 as Europe’s team leader.

It means Clarke is set to throw the gauntlet down to fellow Irishman Paul McGinley along with 2010’s winning captain, Colin Montgomerie, who has expressed a desire to again captain Europe.