Ryder rules may be reviewed

GOLF/European Tour: Ian Woosnam and Nick Faldo could both be named as European Ryder Cup captains next month.

Bernhard Langer's decision not to seek a second term as captain at the K Club in Co Kildare next year appears to leave only Faldo and Woosnam in the running, despite Sandy Lyle and Jose Maria Olazabal expressing an interest in the role.

Woosnam is believed to be the preferred choice of the tour players' committee which meets in Dubai on March 1st to discuss the issue.

Faldo has been spoken of as a good candidate for the next contest in America in 2008, however, and the tournament committee could break with tradition and earmark captains for future matches, either officially or unofficially, to avoid any unseemly "campaigning" for the position.

Committee member Joakim Haeggman, competing in this week's Holden New Zealand Open, admitted: "If you said to me we could chose either of the two for the next four years I could see that happening. Whether we are allowed to by the rules is another question, but maybe it will happen. Both of them deserve to have it. I can't see anybody else at the moment."

Meanwhile, Faldo's protégé, Nick Dougherty, will start among the favourites at Gulf Harbour after winning his first European title in Singapore a fortnight ago.

Also in the field are Ireland's Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane and Gary Murphy.

US TOUR: World number one Vijay Singh will have to contend with an in-form Phil Mickelson when he defends his title at this week's Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Mickelson arrives at the picturesque Monterey Peninsula venue in California fresh from a five-stroke victory at last week's Phoenix Open that included an 11-under-par second round 60.

"I can't wait to get back on the golf course," said left-hander Mickelson after clinching his 24th win on the PGA Tour."Vijay didn't play his best last week. I hope to have a chance to go head-to-head with him."

Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley make their seasonal debuts in the event, while Graeme McDowell completes the Irish interest.

AMATEUR SCENE: Seán McTernan, the runner-up to England's Gray Wolstenholme in the New South Wales Medal in Australia at the weekend, made an excellent start to the NSW Matchplay Championship yesterday when he beat Australian Luke Henwood 2 and 1 in the first round, writes Shay Keenan.

With matches played over 36 holes, McTernan, of Co Sligo, was one up after nine holes, back to all square after 18 but then pulled away over the closing holes.

Dunmurry's Darren Crowe was in top form with an 8 and 6 win over Nick Papoutis of Royal Queensland.

McTernan will meet local Rohan Blizard, who beat Ireland's Brendan McCarroll of City of Derry, 4 and 3, in today's second round, while Crowe takes on Grant Scott.