Clarke: No Ryder Cup job offer

Darren Clarke has categorically denied being invited to become Europe’s next Ryder Cup captain.

Clarke confirmed to the Irish Examiner earlier this week that he was interested in becoming the next captain of the European team.

This led to a raft of stories in Ireland and Britain claiming Clarke had already got the job. But last year’s British Open champion, one of Jose Maria Olazabal’s assistants in Chicago two weeks ago, went on Twitter to say: “To clarify..I havenot been offered the Ryder Cup captaincy.

“It’s not decided by the committee until January. Would be a huge honour if asked.”

Clarke and his countryman Paul McGinley, another of the Medinah vice-captains, are the two front-runners for the job at Gleneagles in 2014.

Lee Westwood has come out in favour of his former cup partner, but world No 1 Rory McIlroy has said he thinks Clarke might be a better fit for the match in Minnesota in 2016.

Ryder Cup director Richard Hills yesterday sought to dampen some of the speculation regarding the identity of the next skipper.

He said: “No decision on the European captain for the 2014 Ryder Cup has been taken and none will be taken until at the earliest when the Tournament Committee next meets, most probably during the Middle East swing in early 2013.”