Clarke Named 2016 European Ryder Cup Captain


Darren Clarke has been announced as the European captain for the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minn. The 41st go-round of the biennial competition that pits touring professionals from the U.S. and Europe will be held September 30 to October 2.

The 2011 British Open champion becomes the first Northern Irishman to lead Europe. The 46-year-old played in the Ryder Cup five times, and was a member of four winning squads.

He was a vice captain under Colin Montgomerie and José María Olazábal in European wins in 2010 and '12, respectively, and succeeds Irishman Paul McGinley, who captained Europe to a 16˝-11˝ triumph at Gleneagles last September.

The Europeans will be seeking to win their fourth straight Ryder Cup, and ninth in the past 11. Clarke was chosen by a five-man selection panel consisting of those three most recent European Ryder Cup captains - McGinley, Olazábal and Montgomerie - as well as the CEO of the European Tour, George O'Grady, and European Tour Tournament Committee member David Howell, during a meeting on February 18.

"I am naturally extremely proud to be selected as European Ryder Cup captain for 2016," Clarke 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 honor.

"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."

"We are delighted to announce that Darren has accepted the invitation from the panel to captain Europe at the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National," O'Grady said.

"Darren has an impressive Ryder Cup pedigree, having featured five times as a player and twice as a vice captain, so he has a strong understanding of the attributes required to be a successful captain. He is also a popular figure among the players and has both the passion and knowledge to lead Europe in the quest for a record fourth consecutive Ryder Cup victory."

Clarke is the first captain to be chosen using Ryder Cup Europe's new selection process - the third method used to pick the Cup captain since players from Continental Europe joined the fold for the 1979 contest, under the captaincy of John Jacobs, at the Greenbrier in West Virginia.

According to various reports, Davis Love III is expected to be named the U.S. Ryder Cup captain early next week.