Clarke named as 2016 Ryder Cup captain

Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke has been elected to captain Europe in the 2016 Ryder Cup.

A five-man panel selected the 46-year-old to lead the team in Hazeltine in 18 months’ time ahead of Miguel Angel Jimenez and Thomas Bjorn.

Clarke has won the tournament four times as a player and was a non-playing vice-captain for wins in 2010 and 2012. The 2011 British Open champion has lost just once in the seven times he has been involved in the Ryder Cup, when the US won at Brookline in 1999. After a quartet of victories as a player – in 1997, 2002, 2004 and 2006 – Clarke helped successive captains Colin Montgomerie and José Maria Olazabal achieve success.

Clarke, who first played in the Ryder Cup under Seve Ballesteros and has won 11.5 points, said: “The Ryder Cup has been a massive part of my life and my career, so to have the chance to lead Europe next year is a huge honour. I am lucky to have played and worked under some fantastic captains in my seven Ryder Cups to date and I look forward to the challenge of trying to follow in their footsteps and help Europe to a fourth consecutive Ryder Cup victory at Hazeltine next year.”

The Ulsterman headed into today’s vote with the support of high-profile players such as Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Lee Westwood.

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