ABU DHABI // The decision to delay the announcement of the next Ryder Cup captain was necessary, according to Henrik Stenson, because he and fellow members of the European Tour's players committee could not to agree on who should take the job. More than four hours of debate at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday night failed to deliver a verdict on who should succeed Nick Faldo for Europe's mission to regain the trophy from the Americans at Celtic Manor, Wales, next year.
"There is no hurry," said Swede Stenson as he prepared for the start of the Abu Dhabi Championship today which kicks off an exciting three-week Desert Swing. "I don't see a problem with waiting a bit longer. I am confident that we are going to get the right man. It was an interesting meeting and I think something really good is going to come out of it. It is important that things like this are done properly," added Stenson, who disclosed that he "threw a few [verbal] punches" during the discussions but refused to disclose his choice of captain.
The selection is likely to be either Spain's Jose-Maria Olazabal, whose desire to continue as a player is adding to the uncertainty, or Sandy Lyle, of Scotland. The committee will move a step closer to making their nomination when they reconvene in Dubai before the Desert Classic which begins in two weeks' time. An announcement is expected on Jan 29. Stenson will be there in his "second home" where he won the tournament two years ago. He will also be in Doha next week to go hunting for a second Qatar Masters title.
After two near misses in Abu Dhabi, he is eager to make amends and complete a clean sweep in the region and then go for the fourth when the new $10m (Dh37m) Dubai World Championship is launched on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates in November. Stenson, 32, plans to make his challenge to become the fourth Abu Dhabi champion with his driver pretty much under wraps. "It will be a rarity out there," he said, "and given the way I hit it today, it is going to become even rarer. I played very poorly in practice. I hope it is not a sign of what's to come." Persistence with the driver probably cost him the chance of overhauling Martin Kaymer in this tournament a year ago. "I was in the thick stuff 60 per cent of the time then so I think it was a great performance to pull off a second-placed finish."
The big-hitting Stenson does not regard the lack of confidence in the driver as a handicap because he can comfortably get the length he needs with his favourite club. "I have had my three wood for a long time and I trust it," said Stenson, pointing out that it served him well during his recent victory at Sun City in South Africa. "I just feel it is a little bit easier to get away with mistakes if you make them with a three wood."
wjohnson@thenational.ae
