Bernhard Langer, Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup captain, is not ruling out staying in charge for Ireland’s first-ever staging of the competition in two years’ time.
After guiding his team to a record-breaking 18½-9½ success over the United States at Oakland Hills, Detroit, Langer played a captain’s role in celebrating the success with his team.
But before boarding the flight back to London this morning he was asked whether he would change his mind about stepping down to let another captain take the reins.
The final decision will be made by the European Ryder Cup Board and the 47-year-old German said: “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 right away.
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“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 ten or 12 months because we only have a 12-month qualifying period, so we have plenty of time.”
Nick Faldo, a veteran of 11 Ryder Cups, would be many commentators’ favourite to lead Europe in 2006. Faldo scored 25 points from 46 matches, making him the most successful player in the event’s history.