Smyth relishes return to Cup spotlight

Des Smyth spoke yesterday ofhis delight at being thrust back into the Ryder Cup limelight after he was named by fellow Irishman Paul McGinley as a Team Europe vice-captain for this September’s matches against the USA at Gleneagles, Scotland.

Smyth, 61, spent the last three Ryder Cups watching avidly from his sofa, having believed his role as a vice-captain to Ian Woosnam at the K Club in 2006 was his final bow in golf’s most gladiatorial arena.

“I didn’t think this would come round to me again,” Smyth revealed yesterday. “After 2006, I thought that was my swansong. I’ve been a pro 41 years but after ‘06, I felt I was stepping off a really big stage. Now I’m back.”