Tuesday 11 November 2014 13:59, UK
Sergio Garcia has claimed that Miguel Angel Jimenez’s lack of English language skills would undermine his hopes of becoming Europe’s next Ryder Cup captain.
It looks increasingly likely that the honour of leading Europe at the 2016 match in Minnesota will come down to a straight choice between Darren Clarke and Jimenez.
Jimenez was an assistant to European skipper Paul McGinley in this year’s victory at Gleneagles, while both he and Clarke performed the role for Jose Maria Olazabal in Medinah.
As things stand, Clarke has emerged as the frontrunner for the 2016 job at Hazeltine and Garcia has now voiced his opinion that compatriot Jimenez could struggle with the demands of being captain due to his limited grasp of English.
"I have to say I am still savouring the victory a month ago at Gleneagles and haven't thought much about it, but while Darren and Miguel are both good candidates I am just concerned for Miguel, and worried that his English is not good enough to deal with all the pressure that goes with being a European Team captain," stated Garcia, who has played in seven Ryder Cups and acted as a vice-captain to Colin Montgomerie back in 2010.
"I know Miguel has been a good Ryder Cup player and he's also been a great Ryder Cup vice-captain, but in becoming a Captain is different.
The problem is that English is not his (Jimenez's) first language and you can try to say something and it comes out so different compared to speaking in Spanish.
"From the time you get appointed there is more than a year-and-a-half of activities, engagements, interviews and so on a new captain has to deal with.
"So it's important that everyone he speaks to over that long period understands exactly what he is saying because sometimes words can be misinterpreted, and being a Ryder Cup captain is being the spokesman for the Tour and the sponsors and so on, and then when competition gets underway there's so many speeches he will have to handle.
"The problem is that English is not his first language and you can try to say something and it comes out so different compared to speaking in Spanish."
A selection committee comprising Europe’s three past captains (McGinley, Olazabal and Montgomerie), players representative David Howell and European Tour chief executive George O’Grady will convene to select Europe’s next captain in the early part of the New Year.
