While Curtis Strange
says he would be honoured to be the U.S. Ryder Cup captain for the 2001
matches in England, a spokesman for the two-time U.S. Open champion said
today he has not been offered the job.
"In fact, he has
not spoken to anyone from the PGA of America since the conclusion of the
last Ryder Cup at Brookline," said Bev Norwood of International Management
Group.
The Houston Chronicle
cited several unidentified sources in a story in today's editions that
said the 44-year-old Strange had agreed to be the captain for the matches
to be held at the Belfry.
PGA spokesman Julius
Mason said a replacement for Ben Crenshaw has not been named and an announcement
was not immediately planned.
"Our goal is to have
a captain for the 34th Ryder Cup Matches by the end of the year," Mason
said.
Strange has been
regarded as the front-runner since the Ryder Cup ended at The Country Club,
where the Americans staged the greatest comeback in the Cup's 72-year history,
winning for the first time since 1993.
Strange is still
involved with the current PGA Tour players and is not hurt by his work
as an analyst for ABC Sports. He also has some player support.
"I think Curtis would
do a great job," Justin Leonard said. "I don't know who the PGA of America
is thinking about, but he would certainly be on my short list."
During the Buick
Challenge, Strange said only that "everybody would treat it as a tremendous
honour to go to the Belfry and be a captain. But haven't talked to anybody,
so I don't know."
The newspaper cited
sources as saying Strange is the only player on the PGA's list.
It also quoted a
player who requested anonymity as saying, "Curtis is absolutely pumped
about it. And the players will have a different sort of respect for him
once they see those fiery eyes."
