Europe's vanquished Ryder Cup team retreated from Kentucky on Monday with the debate already heating up over who should replace Nick Faldo as captain for Celtic Manor, Wales in 2010.

Shortly after his side had relinquished the trophy after a six-year tenure by losing 16.5-11.5 to Paul Azinger's United States, Faldo gave every indication that he had no intention of having another go at one of the toughest jobs in golf.

"I believe it was a one-stop shot as they would say," he said.

That opened the door for several candidates notably his right-hand man at Valhalla, Jose Maria Olazabal, who is the early bookies favourite for the post.

The 42-year-old Spaniard, who is hugely popular and has top-class Ryder Cup pedigree as a player, is currently battling back from a year plagued by injury and fatigue.

But he still harbours hopes of regaining full fitness and being able to win back his position as a player in the side.

"I am still hoping that I will be recovered completely from what I am going through," he said.

"If that's the case I want to be playing. That's where I'm at at the moment.

"Only time will tell how quickly I recover and how well I can play again, but if I'm asked for a decision later this year that might be a little early."

In Olazabal's favour however is that European Ryder Cup officials are not expected to formally discuss the future of the captaincy until a meeting in Dubai in January.

Due to the fact that the next edition of the cup will be held in Wales, there could be a groundswell of support behind Ian Woosnam, the victorious captain two years ago in Ireland.

Woosnam has given no indication of whether or not he is interested in a second stint as skipper.

Other possibles are Scotland's Sandy Lyle and Denmark's Thomas Bjorn while most observers believe it comes too early for the likes of Scot Colin Montgomerie and Paul McGinley of Ireland.

The embattled Faldo meanwhile was given a round of support from an unlikely direction in the shape of Azinger with whom he has had an intense rivalry dating back to the 1987 British Open at Muirfield.

Azinger, who has been hailed a hero in the United States for master-minding the campaign to win back the cup, said it was unfair to heap all the blame for Europe's defeat on the shoulders of Faldo.

"The press will pound him over there but the captains get way too much blame when it doesn't happen," said Azinger. "You know, somebody's got to win and lose.

"Everybody wants to second guess everything that Curtis (Strange) or Hal (Sutton) or Lanny (Wadkins) or Kite did.

"They blamed Tom Kite because Michael Jordan rode in the cart. He rode in the cart for one or two holes. Suddenly it was Tom Kite's fault. That was crazy.

"So, Faldo will get it. Mark James got it, (Bernard) Gallacher got it. Everybody gets it."

The six-times major winner also won support from his players, none of whom broke ranks to criticise him at a tense closing team press conference at Valhalla.

Senior player Lee Westwood in particular was incensed that Faldo should be hauled over the coals.

"We hold the golf clubs and we hit the shots, not the captain," he said.

"If you want to talk about me being rested Friday morning and Sergio (Garcia) being rested, that's the session we won, so Nick was right to do that."

AFP

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