Thomas Bjorn believes there is no need to rush into naming his successor as Ryder Cup captain, even if Padraig Harrington appears certain to be handed the role.
Lee Westwood had previously expressed a desire to captain Europe in 2020, but said on Wednesday that he would prefer to do the job in Rome in 2022 and described Harrington as the “better candidate” to lead the team at Whistling Straits.
The captain is selected by a panel comprising the previous three captains – Bjorn, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley – European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley and a member of the Tour’s Players Committee.
The panel is due to meet in December, but Bjorn does not feel it is necessary to make the decision so far in advance.
Hear what Captain @ThomasBjornGolf had to say immediately after leading #TeamEurope to victory in Paris. pic.twitter.com/bzPw1VGan9 — Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) October 5, 2018
“As much as when we lose, we try and just calm ourselves down, I think we also need to calm ourselves down when we win,” Bjorn said. “We’ve got to let these 12 players enjoy this Ryder Cup and what was 2018 in Paris before we start looking forward to Whistling Straits.
“You can make these decisions too quickly and there’s plenty of time. I think I found being announced as captain on the sixth of December in 2016, maybe having that role was a little bit too long for me in the sense that you’re so eager to get going and there’s nothing to get going with.
“You feel like you’re talking to people that are still coming down from a Ryder Cup that’s just happened. The system is not quite there to support you as an incoming captain, so my recommendation is don’t make this decision too quickly because there’s no point.
“You’re not helping the incoming captain by making the decision too soon.”
As for Harrington’s captaincy credentials, Bjorn added: “I’ve always said when you’ve got somebody that’s a three-time major champion and has the pedigree that Padraig has and holds the respect of the players that he does, it would be difficult to see him not doing it at some stage.
“And if he wants it this time around, it’s difficult to get around that he is very much the favourite to get the job.
“He has a great relationship with the players on the PGA Tour for all the years he’s played there. He’s a past US PGA champion, which helps in the relationship with the PGA of America, and Ireland does have a special relationship with the Americans.
“So there’s a lot of things that plays into his hands to being a captain in America.”
In our hands again 👐🏼🏆 pic.twitter.com/8Eu6g0ghWK — Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) October 8, 2018
Westwood will be 47 by the time of the 2020 Ryder Cup but has not given up hope of equalling Nick Faldo’s record of 11 appearances in the event as a player.
“I won’t be putting my name forward for this one, I’d prefer do it in Rome if possible,” the former world number one told Sky Sports News. “That would be great, I’d very keen on doing it there. I’d like to be playing in two years’ time. I think Padraig Harrington is the ideal candidate for the captaincy.
“He is the right age (47) and he’s still in touch with the players because he’s still playing out here. He’s also very high-profile in the States, where he has won a major championship.
“I just think Padraig is the better candidate for the next one than me, and we need to pick the best man for the job.”
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