Faldo sets his sights on more Ryder Cup glory

Nick Faldo has set himself perhaps the toughest task of his glittering career - winning another Ryder Cup cap.

And to try to achieve it the 45-year-old has put on hold his ambition to captain Europe.

“I’m officially withdrawing my unofficial application,” said Faldo, who is encouraging Sam Torrance to stay on after the role he played in the dramatic win over the United States last weekend.

“Sam should do it and I’m going to try to play my way into the team. I’ll see if I can have one more shot at it – that would be a good incentive for me for the next two years.

“I thought it would be great to get my teeth into something that will motivate me.

“Watching them at The Belfry inspired me,” added Faldo, who was there commentating for television.

“Sam did a fantastic job and didn’t put a foot wrong. He spoke well, came up with great partnerships and created a great team spirit.

“Going on that performance, I’d definitely vote for him for the next one.”

Torrance, who has the lucrative US Seniors Tour to go for once he turns 50 next August, is spending the next few weeks deciding whether he wants to be captain again.

But he gave every indication on Monday he believes it should be somebody else’s turn – and Colin Montgomerie has said it would be almost impossible to top what happened last week.

Faldo has won more caps than anyone in history – 11 – but his last appearance in the match was 1997 at Valderrama.

He has shown a return to form this season, however, and in December will be representing England with Justin Rose in the World Cup in Mexico.

But qualifying for the 2004 Ryder Cup does not start until next September. He will be 46 then and 47 by the time of the match in Oakland Hills, Michigan.

Faldo had given a series of interviews about his wish to be captain earlier this year and appeared to be in a straight race with Bernhard Langer if Torrance stood down and if the German, unbeaten at The Belfry, decides to make himself available.

Now, assuming Faldo wants to do it in 2006, he could find himself in a fight with Colin Montgomerie and also Des Smyth, Eamonn Darcy and Christy O’Connor Jnr, all of whom have had their names put forward by those who believe the K Club match ought to be an Irish captain.

Faldo had a different task on his hands today – attempting to recover from his opening 75 at St Andrews in the Dunhill Links Championship. It left him 10 adrift of first-round leader Eduardo Romero, whose 65 came at Carnoustie.