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Jimenez picked for vice-captain role

Miguel Angel Jimenez will try and help Jose Maria Olazabal lead Europe to Ryder Cup glory © Getty Images

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• Profile: Miguel Jimenez

Miguel Angel Jimenez has been given the honour of becoming Europe's fourth and final vice-captain for the upcoming Ryder Cup.

Jimenez joins Thomas Bjorn, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley as European captain Jose Maria Olazabal's deputies for the biennial event at Medinah next month.

"Miguel's announcement means that I now have four world-class golfers as my vice-captains - all with tremendous experience of playing in the Ryder Cup, which is absolutely invaluable," Olazabal said.

"Thomas, Darren and Paul were there with me supporting Colin Montgomerie [at Celtic Manor in 2010] and Miguel, of course, made a huge contribution to that match, including winning his singles.

"You know he has a very simple and great philosophy - he always sees the positive side and makes people feel better. He shares with Thomas, Darren and Paul that passion, commitment and desire to win and like them I know he will encourage everyone in the team room. I now have four great friends behind me - four guys I know, four guys I trust and four guys familiar with this contest, which is so important because the Ryder Cup is unique."

Jimenez, who has appeared in four Ryder Cups as a player, was a member of Seve Ballesteros' backroom team in 1997. He was not named by Olazabal at the same time as the other trio, leaving the door open for a possible wildcard selection.

However, he missed the cut at this week's Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, the final qualifying event, and instead takes up a non-playing role.

"I remember being woken at 3am [at Valderrama] by Seve for team talks, so I hope Jose Maria hasn't got the same thing in mind," the 48-year-old said. "Fifteen years after being alongside Seve it's great to be vice-captain to Jose Maria. I wouldn't be telling the truth if I didn't say that I would have liked to have been playing again - there is nothing to compare with that in the Ryder Cup - but next to that I couldn't be happier."

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