Faldo stakes claim for Ryder Cup captaincy

Nick Faldo has announced that he hopes to captain Europe's Ryder Cup team when they clash with the Americans in two years time.

The British golfing great, who has been in four winning Ryder Cup teams, has admitted it would delight him to be offered the chance when Europe meet the United States at Oakland Hills Country Clubs.

"I would like to go for 2004," Faldo said.

"With my U.S. experience, 2004 would be a good time for me to put my name forward."

The 44 year old, who was a mainstay for Europe as they famously broke the stranglehold of the United States in the 1980s and 1990s, has promised he would start work immediately if given the job.

Speaking to Golf Weekly, he said: "If I was given the nod, there would be a long enough buildup to allow me to start working on the rookies now."

"The leading players for the European team are pretty clear.

"They compete fantastically on the world stage and will need little preparation but I would have a chance to try to help the players that would be rookies.

"We would have a good two years and by the time they get there they wouldn't be rookies."

Faldo wrote himself into British golfing folklore with some memorable triumphs in the last two decades, landing three Open titles and two US Masters.

He publicly fell out with then captain Mark James at the time of the last Ryder Cup in 1999, a match Faldo missed out on.

This year's Ryder Cup takes place at the Belfry in September, after it was postponed last year as a response to the terrorist attacks in America.

Sam Torrance is the captain hoping to lead Europe to glory.

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