Langer considers continuing as captain

Bernhard Langer, Europe’s latest "Captain Fantastic", is not totally ruling out staying in charge for Ireland’s first-ever staging of the Ryder Cup in two years’ time.

After the record-breaking 18 1/2-9 1/2 rout of the Americans in Detroit, the fourth European win in five matches, Langer partied the night away with his team.

But before they boarded the flight back to London this morning he was asked whether he would change his mind about stepping down to let others – Nick Faldo would be the favourite – have a go.

The decision is the European Ryder Cup Board’s and the 47-year-old German commented: “They need to figure out who they want as captain first and then ask that person.

“If that should be me then I will consider it, talk it over with my wife and look at it. I said 'consider'. It does not mean I would accept it rightaway.

“I need a bit of down time and just right now I’m enjoying this moment with my team. We’ve had a fantastic week and we want to celebrate.

“We usually don’t appoint another captain for another 10 or 12 months because we only have a 12-month qualifying period, so we have plenty of time.”

The previous three captains – Seve Ballesteros, Mark James and Sam Torrance - served just one match, but before them Bernard Gallacher did three and Tony Jacklin four.

Less than two weeks ago Langer had said: “We have a number of guys waiting to be Ryder Cup captains and it wouldn’t be fair for me to occupy that job again even if I was asked.

“We had periods where we were struggling for captains, but I think now we are in a period where there are several guys willing to do it.”

Ian Woosnam and Sandy Lyle threw their hats into the ring for this year’s match, while Faldo tried instead to make it as a player.

He never got close and that could well persuade him to stand for the job at the K Club near Dublin.

Jose Maria Olazabal and Colin Montgomerie are almost certainly future captains as well and after that Europe would probably be looking at the likes of Thomas Bjorn and Darren Clarke to do the job next.

Langer’s term, if it is just Oakland Hills, will be remembered for the scoreline first and foremost and then his attention to detail.

Everything he did worked like a dream, whereas opposite number Hal Sutton must have thought the golfing Gods had it in for him.

Sutton accepts, however, that he has to shoulder some of the blame for America’s biggest-ever defeat.

If he had it in his mind to play Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson together since the day two years ago he became captain, then it might have been an idea for them to practise together at least once before the match.

They didn’t, they lost twice and Europe grew in confidence.

Neither Langer nor any of his players expected such a result, though – and nor, of course, did an American team hailed by Sutton as “probably the best putting team ever assembled”.

Woods said: “I thought we gelled, but we just didn’t make enough putts. When it comes right down to it, if you look at the highlights of the Ryder Cup in general, you’ll see the Europeans making a boat-load of putts.

“I think we hit the ball just as good, but you’ve got to make the putts.”

The world number two’s commitment to the event has been questioned – his record now reads seven wins, two halves and 11 defeats – but he added: “I don’t like losing. It doesn’t feel good – never has.

“We busted our tail and didn’t get the job done. It’s very disappointing.”

Every one of the European side contributed at least one point, with Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia being top-scorers with four-and-a-half out of five and Padraig Harrington four.