Woosnam named European Ryder Cup captain for 2006; Faldo to lead squad in 2008

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Ian Woosnam of Wales and Nick Faldo of England were picked Wednesday as Europe's next Ryder Cup captains.

Woosnam will be the team's captain next year, while Faldo will serve in that role in 2008.

The European Tour's tournament committee announced the unprecedented double appointment -- reached by unanimous decision -- after a closed meeting in Dubai on Tuesday on the eve of the Dubai Desert Classic.

Woosnam, who turned 47 on Wednesday, is the 1991 Masters champion and an eight-time Ryder Cup player. He was an assistant to captain Sam Torrance on the 2002 European team and was widely favored to lead the team for 2006.

"I'm going to be captain and I'm not going to be a playing captain," Woosnam said. "That decision is made now. It's such an honor and it needs full attention."

He said that his next decision would be choosing a vice-captain, and said his choice would be an Irishman, adding that he didn't know all the players on the European team and would work toward changing that.

"In the next 18 months, I will get to know these guys very well," he said. "I've been out there for 30 years and it's difficult to keep up with all the names."

Announcing the selection of both players appeared to be a compromise to avoid snubbing Faldo. The 47-year-old Englishman is the most successful British golfer of his generation, with victories in six majors and 11 Ryder Cup appearances.

Ian Woosnam and George O'Grady, the European Tour's executive director, pose with the Ryder Cup. (Getty Images)

"We didn't feel it was fair to keep him hanging on," committee chairman Jamie Spence said. "He wanted to know, and we weren't prepared to make him wait."

In a prepared statement, Faldo said he was happy to be picked.

"It is a huge honor to be named captain of the European Ryder Cup team in 2008," he said. "I can't say how excited I am at the prospect of leading the side in the United States."

The 14-member committee includes Bernhard Langer, who led Europe to a record 18½-9½ victory over the United States last year at Oakland Hills near Detroit. Langer stepped away from the job, hoping to qualify as a player for 2006.

Woosnam will lead Europe in the Sept. 22-24 matches at the K Club in Dublin, Ireland. Tom Lehman will captain the American team.

Faldo would captain in 2008 at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. Paul Azinger is a top candidate to lead the Americans that year.

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