GOLF: Ian Woosnam, an inspirational aide to Sam Torrance's successful Ryder Cup captaincy, is a candidate to take charge of the European team in 2004. "If they want me," he said yesterday, "I'm certainly up for it."
Woosnam, who has played eight times in the Ryder Cup, has put his name forward to the tournament committee for the next match and if they recommend him it will be passed to the Ryder Cup committee for ratification.
The Welshman's decision will not only please Torrance, it will avert what could have become a captaincy crisis. Yesterday Torrance, still bleary-eyed after the celebrations but preparing for the Lancome Trophy which begins today here at St-Nom-la-Breteche, Versailles, said: "I would hate to see Woosie not take the job next time.
"He would be fantastic as a captain. He was great with the players at the Belfry and if he waits until the matches go to Wales in 2010 he could be too old. But the last time we spoke he still fancied his chance of playing his way into the team."
Woosnam, who is 44, admitted that he was attracted by the idea of playing in another Ryder Cup, but added that if asked he would accept the captaincy and then see how he was playing over the following few months.
"If it looked as though I might get into the team," he said, "we would have to see if the vice-captain could take over."
He thinks that the problem of the succession could, in fact, be solved in the same way that happened when Mark James and Torrance were vying for the role.
Both thought they might play their way into the team and the solution was that when it became obvious that one or other would not, he would be captain at Brookline and the other would take charge at the Belfry.
"Maybe Bernhard Langer and I could come to the same sort of arrangement," said Woosnam.
Langer is the other obvious and outstanding candidate.
Like Woosnam he is a must for the captaincy at some time.
The German's last known position was that he wanted to play his way into another team, but he will be 47 by the time the Cup gets to Oakland Hills, Detroit, in 2004 and his powers may by then be fading.
"It wouldn't matter to me," added Woosnam, "whether I did it next time or the time after that when it goes to Ireland (at the K Club).
"I know the Irish want an Irishman but all their candidates will be on the senior tour by the time it gets to their country, so if they can't have one of their own they could at least get a Celt."
The chances of the continent providing a captain other than Langer are slim, at least in the immediate future. The Swede Joakim Haeggman helped Torrance at the Belfry but does not see himself as skipper "for at least 15 years".
He added: "You need someone with good enough English to get his ideas over and there is no one at the moment."
Four of the victorious Ryder Cup team are competing at St Nom La Breteche - Sergio Garcia, Colin Montgomerie, Paul McGinley and Thomas Bjorn - with Garcia defending the title he won in dramatic circumstances last year.
Garcia came from four behind with four holes to play with three birdies in a row from the 15th to beat Retief Goosen by a stroke, preventing the former US Open champion from successfully defending his title.
The Spaniard yesterday played down criticism of his celebrations on the 18th at the Belfry after Paul McGinley had holed the winning putt, Davis Love feeling the 22-year-old had gone too far by running down the 18th fairway to embrace Pierre Fulke while the Swede and Love were still playing their match.
"It was different than three years ago," said Garcia, referring the Americans' premature celebrations on the 17th green at Brookline when Justin Leonard holed a birdie putt against Jose Maria Olazabal.
"The Ryder Cup was over. I don't think it was that much over the top."
Guardian Service
Ireland's Joe McDermott produced the biggest surprise of the day when he defeated former Ryder Cup captain, Bernard Gallacher, by 2 and 1 in the opening round of the Seniors Matchplay Championship at the new Flamingos GC in southern Spain yesterday.
Gallacher, one of the tournament favourites, made a miserable start when he registered three sixes in his opening five holes and never recovered.
McDermott (62), who now lives in Port St Lucie, Florida, said: "That's a great scalp for me. It's always great to win at matchplay and it is even better when it is against someone with the sort of reputation Bernard has got."
FIRST ROUND SCORES: (Irl and Brit unless stated): J Chillas bt I Stanley (Aus) 5 and 4, A Garrido (Spa) bt D Oakley (USA) 1 hole, P Diniz (Bra) bt J Bruner (USA) 1 hole, E Polland bt J Irwin (Can) 1 hole, D Durnian bt J McTear 1 hole, P Townsend bt G Wintz (USA) 4 and 3, N Ratcliffe (Aus) bt A Croce (Ita) 1 hole, D O'Sullivan bt S Owen (Nzl) 2 and 1, T Horton bt R Carrasco (USA) 2 and 1, B Evans bt M Bembridge 4 and 3, I Mosey bt J Rhodes at 24th hole, D Cambridge (Jam) bt D. Good (Aus) 5 and 4, J Morgan bt M. Gegson at 22nd hole, M Miller bt K MacDonald 5 and 4, J McDermott bt B Gallacher 2 and 1, N Job bt D Creamer 1 hole
Ian Woosnam has declared his interest in succeeding Sam Torrance as Ryder Cup captain for the 2004 contest at Oakland Hills in Michigan.
