KEY POINTS:
VIRGINIA WATER - Skipper Nick Faldo named Jose Maria Olazabal and Paul McGinley yesterday as his vice-captains for Europe's Ryder Cup golf defence against the United States next year.
The 41-year-old Olazabal has played in seven Ryder Cup teams and formed a brilliant partnership with fellow-Spaniard Seve Ballesteros.
Irishman McGinley, 40, has appeared in the biennial match three times and holed the winning putt in 2002.
"These are two guys I have got a good chemistry with," Faldo said ahead of the PGA Championship at Wentworth.
"One [Olazabal] mainly plays in America and one [McGinley] mainly plays in Europe. I felt that was very important, for me to have good eyes and ears close to the ground, good feedback, and also for the players to know lines of communication were now open."
But the 49-year-old Faldo, who replaces Ian Woosnam as skipper, said he might have to rethink his vice-captaincy picks.
"Their [Olazabal and McGinley's] number one goal is still to make the team and I am in full support of that," said six-times major champion Faldo.
"If they both do make the team I'll go back to the woods and come up with a couple of different names."
McGinley said it was a great honour to be selected by Faldo.
"We all know his record and how much in high esteem he is held," said the Irishman.
"But I still feel I've got a few more Ryder Cups in me [as a player] and my first objective is to make the team, just as it is for Ollie."
McGinley and Olazabal were members of last year's triumphant team in Ireland and Faldo said he was wanted modern-day players as vice-captains.
Europe will bid to make it four consecutive Ryder Cup wins when they take on the US at Valhalla, Kentucky, in September 2008.
- REUTERS
