Golf: Old masters have sights on Ryder Cup captaincy

Two of Europe’s likely future Ryder Cup captains are among the favourites for this week’s Caltex Singapore Masters at Laguna National Golf and Country Club.

Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam have played in 19 Ryder Cups between them, forming a formidable partnership, especially during the 1987 contest at Muirfield Village when they won three-and-a-half points out of four as Europe won on American soil for the first time.

But neither have played since Valderrama in 1997, and acknowledge that, despite recently showing flashes of the ability that has brought them 59 European Tour titles between them, the chance to play on another team may have passed them by with Faldo now 44, and Woosnam 43.

Therefore their attention has turned to captaining the European side instead, with Faldo potentially the first to take charge of a team that will be lead by Sam Torrance at the Belfry in September.

‘‘The Ryder Cup has always been a big part of my life and that is why I want to continue to be a part of it,’’ said Faldo, who gave former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell a lesson today after she had performed at the charity pro-am dinner on Tuesday evening.

‘‘I’ve been talking to my people and my wife Valerie and they have warmed me to the idea of leading the side in 2004. I would like to do the job and sooner rather than later.

‘‘Not so long ago I would have said it would be too early for me but it would be nice to do it with my contemporaries and with some of the younger guys coming through.’’

One of the likely contenders for a place in the 2004 team would be Nick Dougherty, a player Faldo has taken under his wing since spotting him playing in one of his junior series events several years ago.

Also figuring into Faldo’s thinking is the fact that, following the postponement of the scheduled contest in 2001 in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, the next contest he can qualify for will not take place until September 2004, when he will be 47.

Woosnam would be 46 in 2004, and the former US Masters champion fears he may now never qualify for the team again.

‘‘On both sides (in September) you are going to get some players not playing as well as they were but that is something you have to put up with and hope it is just a good match,’’ added Woosnam, who will be Sam Torrance’s vice-captain at the Belfry.

‘‘It is a bit disappointing for someone like me and Nick Faldo because we will have to wait three years to try to get back in the side and that will be tough.

‘‘As for being captain, I would like to wait until it is in Wales (at Celtic Manor) in 2010 and I will be over 50 by then. The only thing I will have to watch is not to fall out of touch with the players.

‘‘But with it being in Wales for the first time that is what I want to wait for.’’