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Faldo announces Ryder Cup deputies

22/05/2007

Nick Faldo has named Jose Maria Olazabal and Paul McGinley as his two assistants for Europe's 2008 Ryder Cup defence in Valhalla, Kentucky.

Olazabal has appeared in seven Ryder Cups and famously formed a formidable partnership with fellow Spaniard Seve Ballesteros.

Ireland's McGinley also has strong pedigree in the competition having made appearances in the past three contests and sunk the winning putt in 2002.

Faldo hopes that the pair will provide him with useful advice drawn from their experiences on either side of the Atlantic.

"One [Olazabal] mainly plays in America and one [McGinley] mainly plays in Europe," the 49-year-old skipper said.

"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."

However Faldo, who stepped up to the role of captain after Welshman Ian Woosnam stood down in the wake of his 2006 success at the K Club, admits that his plans may be disrupted by the pair's good form.

"Their [Olazabal and McGinley] number one goal is still to make the team and I am in full support of that," he conceded.

"If they both do make the team I'll go back to the woods and come up with a couple of different names."

Victory for Faldo's team would make it four successive wins for Europe in the fiercely-fought matchplay contest.

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