Golf: Faldo Near to Bowing Out of Ryder Cup Race

After a short, well supported but ultimately futile campaign, Nick Faldo, arguably Europe's greatest ever golfer, bowed to the inevitable yesterday when he all but conceded defeat in the race for the 2006 Ryder Cup captaincy, leaving the way open for Ian Woosnam to lead the European team against the United States at the K-Club in Ireland.

With rumours intensifying that the Welshman has the overwhelming backing of the European Tour tournament committee, which will meet in Dubai next Tuesday to vote on the captaincy, Faldo was downbeat about his chances.

"Like everyone else I've heard the rumours," he said here in southern California, where he is commentating on the Accenture World Match Play for US television. "But we shall see, we shall see."

But it is a measure of the Englishman's expectations that when the captaincy decision is announced he will be on the other side of the world, filming a TV "infomercial" in Puerto Rico. Suffice to say, the European Tour will not have a TV link-up with the Caribbean next week should Faldo wish to make an acceptance speech.

Ironically, just as shares in the Faldo captaincy were falling through the floor, one of Europe's best players, Luke Donald, stated his preference for the six-times major winner. Asked whom he would like as captain, Donald said: "Personally, for me, Faldo. I know him a little better, though it's a tricky one. I think there are advantages for both. Some say that because Faldo has got into broadcasting, maybe that will take away from his skills as a Ryder Cup captain - too much juggling too many things. Woosnam, on the other hand, is friends with a lot of the guys out there."

Donald, as impressive and thoughtful a speaker as he is a golfer, went on to make an eloquent case for Faldo, based on his record as a six-times major championship winner and his similarity - in professional ethos at least - to Bernhard Langer, who led to the European team to an easy victory over the United States last year. "Nick has very similar characteristics to Bernhard. He had a very similar career, golf-wise - a better resumé, in fact. He dedicated his life to making that happen, and maybe some of those skills could be put to good use if he was the Ryder Cup captain."

Woosnam, Faldo, whoever, there is little doubt Donald will be one of the team's most important members. After a stellar amateur career the 27-year-old has made an impressive transition to the professional ranks, winning once in the US and twice on the European tour last year. His performance at Oakland Hills in last September's Ryder Cup, when he won 2 points out of four, also gave notice that he is some match-play player - indeed the kind who might win here, perhaps.

However, he will have to make up for lost time, with play being put back for a day because the course has been flooded by torrential rain.

Five new tees have been installed on the Old Course at St Andrews to toughen it up for the Open from July 14-17. The par-72 layout will play to 7,115 yards.