Paul McGinley hopes to play another major Ryder Cup role when the European Tour tournament committee meets at Wentworth today.

The Dubliner is a member of the 15-man panel of players which will nominate their choice of captain for the 2006 matches at the K Club.

But he is unsure how much weight their decision will carry with the Ryder Cup committee, who have the last word on the issue and will announce their choice early in the New Year.

With Colin Montgomerie withdrawing from the race on Friday, it looks like a straight fight between Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam and Nick Faldo for the skipper’s job.

But McGinley explained: “We put forward a name but that does not mean that the Ryder Cup committee will agree with our choice.

“They have ignored the recommendation of the player’s committee in the past so it is not a foregone conclusion.

“It is my first year on the committee and I am looking forward to hearing all the arguments for the different candidates. It's going to be an interesting meeting.

“We’ll have to wait and see if Bernhard Langer wants to put his forward again but it looks like there are only three candidates on the agenda with Faldo and Woosie the other two.”

McGinley and stabelmate Darren Clarke are the only Irish representatives on a committee that is chaired by Jamie Spence and includes Ryder Cup players such as Langer, Mongtomerie, Andrew Coltart, Joakim Haeggman and Jean Van de Velde.

But he admitted that he is not hopeful of an Irishman getting the most coveted job in golf.

He added: "I am really looking forward to hearing all the arguments for the different candidates but there appear to be only three contenders and as much as I want an Irish captain I am resigned to the fact that it is less and less likely.”

Whatever happens, McGinley knows that US captain Tom Lehman will produce a formidable team at the K Club.

The Americans have changed their qualification system, awarding more points for results in a Ryder Cup year so that they can field a more in-form team.

He explained: “The Americans have put more emphasis on what happens in a Ryder Cup year now. When you get a thrashing like the one they got in September you have to try and change things and look for players on form.

“Langer had a team in form and four or five guys in form looking for the two picks. But the Americans have closed that loophole now and I am sure that it will help their team.”

Scotland’s Sandy Lyle is also hopeful of geting the player’s nomination but judging by McGinley’s remarks, the hopes of Irish candidates Des Smyth, Eamonn Darcy and Christy O’Connor Jnr are nothing more than pipe dreams.

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© Brian Keogh 2004

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