#360view: Why Darren Clarke is an ideal Ryder Cup captain

Joy Chakravarty 06:14 19/02/2015
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  • Full support: Darren Clarke has been unanimously picked as Europe's Ryder Cup captain.

    One of Darren Clarke’s defining moments came after he decided to play the 2006 Ryder Cup at the K Club in Ireland just weeks after the death of his wife. He secured three points for Europe and had almost everyone in tears in what was an emotionally charged performance in the toughest of circumstances.

     Darren Clarke named 2016 European Ryder Cup captain

    It’s that incredible strength of character, honesty and humility that makes him the ideal choice to take on 12 Americans and thousands of partisan fans at Hazeltine next year in pursuit of another Ryder Cup triumph.

    The 46-year-old was yesterday announced as the unanimous choice to lead Europe in their bid for an unprecedented fourth consecutive victory in the biennial competition – their previous best run being three wins in three years twice. The decision was really not much of a surprise, considering that there were only two serious contenders for the post – Clarke and Miguel Angel Jimenez.

    But the chances of the Northern Irishman getting the job were much higher, especially considering he was among the frontrunners to get the job last time at Gleneagles, before Paul McGinley won over most of the support.

    So, Clarke is now up against an American team that is thirsting for revenge, and is sure to do everything possible to get off the one-way street. Stung by the loss at Gleneagles, they have already formed a Task Force, which is just the start of a process they want to put in place so that they are more competitive in future tournaments.

    And with the PGA set to name Davis Love III as the American captain, it brings one of their most successful Ryder Cup stars back into the picture, someone who has been smarting ever since that fateful Sunday at Medinah, when an Ian Poulter-led Europe so cruelly snatched away what should have been his victory parade.

    Clarke has the right credentials for the job. He made his Ryder Cup debut way back in 1997 and has enough experience of the pressure-cooker like situation through his numerous involvements as a player, and lately as a vice-captain.

    Even though it was the five-member committee – comprising three previous captains McGinley, Jose Maria Olazabal and Colin Montgomerie, and David Howell and European Tour chief George O’Grady – which decided in Clarke’s favour, there is no doubting that the biggest deciding factor in such a decision is always the thoughts of some of the world’s leading stars.

    Europe will be gunning for a fourth consecutive Ryder Cup under the tutelage of Darren Clarke.

    For 2014, Clarke seemed to have the upper hand over McGinley, when the scales tilted overnight after Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Poulter threw their weight behind the other Irishman. This time, Clarke already enjoys the support of his Norther Ireland compatriots McIlroy and Graeme McDowell.

    The excuse everyone gave for choosing McGinley ahead of Clarke for Gleneagles, was that they felt the immense popularity Clarke enjoyed in the United States would make things easy for him. But the same can be said about Jimenez, who is a much loved personality because of his outgoing and gregarious personality.

    There was a suggestion some time ago that Jimenez was not proficient in English, and it could hamper his prospects. I hope that didn’t come into the mind of the committee, because that would be ridiculous.

    Clarke will also have to personally thank McGinley, because it was very evident the last couple of years that the two haven’t been enjoying a great relationship. The thickest of friends for several years, Clarke putting his hat into the ring after promising support to McGinley last year caused a rift.

    So, if McGinley and possibly Olazabal, who is one of Jimenez’ closest friends, voted for the Spaniard, the result would have been drastically different. But it seems McGinley did not let his personal equation with Clarke come into the mix.

    This could be a great move for Europe, because Clarke has proved time and again – and the way he lost more than 20 kilos in weight and made himself fit last year and also how he won the 2011 Open Championship are great examples – that when conditions are at its toughest, he thrives.

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