Ryder Cup captain selection to be kept secret

It is hoped move will stop the captaincy being leaked onto social media. Picture: Jane Barlow

A five-man panel handed the job of picking Paul McGinley’s successor will not follow recent protocol by making the decision during the Abu Dhabi Championship in January.

Instead, McGinley and his two predecessors, Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal, along with David Howell and European Tour chief executive George O’Grady, will pick the man to lead Europe at Hazeltine in 2016 in secret session. “We are even talking about not telling anyone when we are doing it,” said Montgomerie. “I don’t think we are giving a date or time away. I think it will just be announced and I think that’s the best thing to do.”

That follows McGinley’s appointment for this year’s match at Gleneagles being marred slightly by social media activity. “The new process stops social media getting involved in it,” added Montgomerie, who is also pleased that it will prevent a repeat of his own situation as the 2010 captain was appointed in the UAE.

“That was a real carry-on,” he said. “I had to sit in the loo for 20 minutes waiting to be called back because they were talking about me. I went from 1-50 to 50-1. You shouldn’t be gambling on things through what is being said on social media. It should be, as it will be this time: ‘The captain of the Ryder Cup team is…’”

Darren Clarke is the hot favourite. “It’s natural that there is a lot of support for Darren,” admitted Montgomerie. “He’s obviously had the experience and he’d be a candidate, for sure.”