Miguel's the Man to Make French Connection for Europe

Post by Sports Journalist Derek Clements

The smart money is on his peers at the European Tour appointing Thomas Bjorn as the man to captain his continent at the 2018 Ryder Cup. It is a call that will surprise many in and around the game who feel that the Dane is going to be given the nod simply because he has "done his time".

He has been a fine ambassador for the game in Europe and is a former Ryder Cup player, but is he really the man to succeed Darren Clarke?

I am not a great fan of Mark James, who led Europe at Brookline in 1999, and is possibly the worst captain we have ever had, on a par with Hal Sutton for the United States. But he speaks a lot of sense when he makes a case for Miguel Angel Jimenez to take charge in France in two years' time.

There will be those who point to the fact that Jimenez does not have a great command of the English language - do not believe a word of it.  He speaks English just fine, thank you very much, he is a favourite with the fans and he has played on four Ryder Cup teams, most recently in the victory under Colin Montgomerie at Celtic Manor in 2010. He is also extremely popular among fellow professionals.

And don't forget that he was one of Seve Ballesteros' vice-captains way back in 1997, and was subjected to the vagaries of the most volatile and enthusiastic leader the European team has ever had. The Ryder Cup matters to Jimenez, probably in a way that it could never matter to Bjorn.

Now dividing his time between the European Tour and Champions Tour at the age of 52, Jimenez has been a Ryder Cup vice-captain three times, in 1997, 2012 and 2014, and he truly "gets" what it is all about.

James, who handed Jimenez his playing debut at Brookline 17 years ago, is convinced the cigar-smoking man from Malaga would be an inspiring leader at Le Golf National, and it is difficult to argue with him. “If Miguel Angel Jimenez wants to be the next European Ryder Cup captain, he’s the man the selection panel should go for,” James said. “There’s no question that he would make a brilliant leader, and I think he’d be better in Paris in 2018 than in Wisconsin two years later because he is a little extroverted, and it’s easier to be that way at home.

“Jimenez has done everything you can except win majors in the European game. He has won 21 tour titles, is highly respected by his fellow players and is well-liked. He has to be the number one candidate.”

James added: “Beyond Jimenez, Lee Westwood and Thomas Bjorn would be good candidates, and Europe is lucky there are some great options.

Bjorn is the bookmakers' favourite, and it is likely that Westwood would turn down the invitation to do the job anyway, even though he is perfectly qualified to take on the role. The 43-year-old finished without a point from three matches in Europe’s 17-11 defeat at Brookline and may feel that he still has one more match left in him as a player.

James said of Westwood: “I’m not writing off his chances of making the team again."

Image Credit: Kevin Diss - Golf Course Photography