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Miguel Angel Jimenez sounds like he doesn't want to be Europe's Ryder Cup captain -- yet
Miguel Angel Jimenez hinted it might not be time for him to assume the role of Europe's Ryder Cup captain in a recent interview with Ten-Golf.com. If you understand Spanish, here's the video:
And if, like us, you're Spanish isn't good, don't worry. The Irish Golf Desk translated the interview. Here are the key quotes:
"I see myself in the mix. But what happens is that if you dedicate yourself to being captain your game is possibly going to deteriorate because there is so much to do. And I want to compete."
"So I do [want to be captain] and I don't. . ."
Jimenez turns 51 on Jan. 5, but he's coming off a year in which he finished fourth at the Masters and generated some Ryder Cup buzz of his own when he won the Spanish Open in May to become the oldest winner in European Tour history. The Spaniard is currently ranked No. 40 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Jimenez didn't end up making the team, but he served as a vice captain under Paul McGinley at Gleneagles in September. Europe beat the U.S. for the eighth time in 10 tries, but hasn't settled on its next leader yet. Well, not officially.
It appears Darren Clarke is the man for the job, if Jimenez wants to concentrate on his own game for the time being. Padraig Harrington and Thomas Bjorn, two other top contenders for the position, have already taken themselves out of consideration. Clarke was not one of Europe's five vice captains at this past Ryder Cup (he worked on TV for Sky Sports during the event), but has been backed by World No. 1 and fellow Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy as the "perfect man to lead the team" at Hazeltine in 2016.