Ryder Cup hopefuls Christy O'Connor and Eamonn Darcy have rubbished suggestions that they are not up to the Ryder Cup skipper's job.

Jose Maria Olazabal has said that the captaincy shouldn't necessarily go to an Irishman when the event comes to the K Club.

"I believe it should come down to the individual merits of the respective captains, regardless of nationality," said Olazabal. "Ireland has produced a lot of good players but I don't think many of them were of the level that Seve was at."

But Darcy and O'Connor Jnr feel that the Spanish star is underestimating the wealth of experience of the Ireland's candidates.

Said Darcy: "It should go to an Irishman. It's not just the fact that it's in Ireland, it's the fact that quite a few of the Irish guys have served their apprenticeship and deserve the job.

"Guys like Christy, Philip Walton and myself have been involved in the shake up for the Ryder Cup. I think any of us certainly would be able to handle the situation of captaincy.

"You are not talking about young kids. We've all been around for a long, long time. Been involved with the tour, seen it grow. We've been involved in making it grow and we've have been involved with the Ryder Cups since 1975."

Said O'Connor Jnr: "The guys here are more than capable of handling the captaincy in any team, as they have shown in many sports. Playing at home I think it would be an asset. Certainly none of us would have gone for the job if we were afraid or were scared of it. Granted, it's a pretty tough job but I think were are more than qualified."

He added: "Jose has his opinion but what other country has a finer input into the Ryder Cup than Ireland? Guys like Des Smyth and Eamonn Darcy have been there a lot longer than Jose Marie. I'm not saying that Jose Maria hasn't put in fantastic performances but we are certainly more than capable."

The Ryder Cup committee is unlikely to make a decision on the captaincy for 2006 for another two years. But the politics has already started.

Colin Montgomerie is being touted as a possible skipper for the K Club edition because his next chance to lead the side might not come until 2014, when he will be 51.

The job has been earmarked for Ian Woosnam when the match goes to Celtic Manor in Wales in 2010.

With the 2006 edition a long way away, Darcy is worried about losing touch with the younger players on tour as he enters the senior ranks this August.

"That would be my only concern," he admitted. "There's a lot of politics concerned in this and perhaps they have a good idea who they want already. I know that Monty is very interested. But I just feel that it would be a nice way of saying thank you to Ireland. We have represented the Ryder Cup since the very top.

"We've certainly been very involved I think it should certainly go to one of the three of us - Christy, myself or Des."

Added O'Connor: "Our representation on the Ryder Cup goes back many years to Fred Daly and Harry Bradshaw, my uncle Christy O'Connor played in 10 Ryder Cups.

"We're are more than capable. We can do the job as well as anybody in the world. If Jose is saying that we should pick the best guy for the job then that's fine because we have four of the best guys for the job here.

Smyth is equally dismissive of Olazabal's suggestion.

"Jose Maria is entitled to his opinion. Irishmen have been on the Ryder Cup team for a 100 years and there has never been an Irish captain and I find that extraordinary. I really feel there should be an Irish captain for 2006. I won't be disappointed if it's not me, but I will be hugely disappointed if it isn't an Irishman. And I think the Irish people will be hugely disappointed.

"Just look at the Irish players who have contributed to the Ryder Cup. There's been Christy O'Connor Senior, Fred Daly, Harry Bradshaw, Norman Drew, Eamonn Darcy, Christy Junior, Philip Walton, Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington and many others.

"Then there's the Irish people who have supported it over the years and, don't forget, the Irish Tourist Board has given so much time and money to professional golf tournaments. There has to be an Irish captain."

Michael Hoey

New kid Michael Hoey will play in Jack Nicklaus's Memorial Tournament next week, but it's going to cost him a place in the British Masters at Woburn.

Hoey was invited to the Memorial as the reigning British Amateur champion.

"I didn't know if I would get in as a professional but the invite arrived and I couldn't say no," he said.

The 23-year-old Belfast kid is not eligible to play in next week's Volvo PGA at Wentworth. But he could miss the chance of an invitation to Woburn because he will not get back from Jack's place in time.

"Even if I missed the cut and get an invite to Woburn I can't get back because I have a fixed ticket that I can't change," he groaned.

Ciaran

Donegal pro Ciaran McMonagle has turned to working on the building sites of New York to finance his tour dreams.

The Dunfanaghy man turned pro last season ago but has struggled to get financial support after missing his card.

He said: "I went to Florida to get competitive practice and did some work hauling lumber in New York. It was a joke last year trying to make a few quid on the MasterCard Tour in the UK.

"My brother works in New York so I said, why not. I needed the money and it was good to be in the US and have a chance to get in some warm weather practice."

The 26 year old made his seasonal debut on the Challenge Tour in Italy two weeks ago and finished tied for 19th.

But he earned just ¤1,044 and with no card this season, his mobile is always on as he waits for last minute invitations.

Quinn Life

Tour stars Eamonn Darcy and Philip Walton have confirmed their participation in the ¤69,850 Quinn Life Charity Pro-Am which will be played at Slieve Russell on Monday and Tuesday.

The event, which forms part of the PGA Irish Region tour, raises huge amounts for Irish charities.

ILGU

The ILGU has started a new championship for the under 23s.

The Irish Intermediate Amateur Stroke Play Championship, sponsored by Supermacs and Smyth's Toys, will take place at Claremorris Golf Club from 8 - 9 June.

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© Brian Keogh 2002

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