Ryder Cup

Clarke makes a play for Ryder Cup captaincy

ESPN staff

September 29, 2014

Sir Alex Ferguson and Sergio Garcia revel in Europe's win

Darren Clarke has confirmed he wants to replace Paul McGinley as captain and continue Europe's Ryder Cup success.

He was a vice-captain two years ago at Medinah when Europe fought back from 10-6 down to win and has put himself forward for the main role in Minnesota in 2016.

McGinley has said he will not be involved as captain or vice-captain but will have a say in who becomes his successor and Clarke, along with Miguel Angel Jimenez, Colin Montgomerie, Bernard Langer, Jose Maria Olazabal and Padraig Harrington, are in the running.

"I would love to be [captain] at some stage, but that's up to the committee to decide," Clarke told Sky Sports.

"They will have a list of potential candidates and look at each one on merit, discuss it and decide which guy is best. Obviously it would be a huge honour. If they would offer me the position I would love to do it at some stage."

McGinley has won widespread plaudits for his captaincy, unlike his team USA counterpart Tom Watson, but is happy to quit while he is ahead.

"The Ryder Cup has been very good to me and I'm quite happy now to take very much a background (role)," McGinley said.

"I've got a role now in deciding who the next captain will be and we'll see where that goes in the next few months on behalf of the European Tour.

"I've done my piece and I'm happy to have the honour and happy to help in any way going forward.

"I don't think it would be right for me to go into the vice-captaincy role. I don't know if I'd quite enjoy that, having done it, and then stepped up to captaincy.

"But I'm very happy to help the captain in any way. On the European side, obviously!"