Former Open champion Darren Clarke seems far from a 'shoo-in' for the 2016 Ryder Cup captaincy with main rival Miguel Angel Jimenez declaring he wants to lead Europe in Hazeltine 'with a passion'.
Jimenez was understood to have said in a Spanish newspaper he was not interested in being appointed European Team captain.
However the pony-tailed Malaga-born golfer straightened out the English translation as incorrect.
Jimenez was chomping on a cigar as he worked on his putting ahead of today's (THU) opening round in the 10th anniversary Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
And when asked to answer either 'yes' or 'no' to the report in the Spanish newspaper that he was not interested in leading Europe at the end of next year, the Malaga-born golfer left no doubt as to his intentions.
"I did not say that I did want the Ryder Cup captaincy," he said.
"I would not say that because I want it ...(now taking his cigar from his mouth) ... with a passion."
The new-look five-man selection committee, comprising the past three Ryder Cup captains, along with Tour CEO George O'Grady and Players Committee member, David Howell will meet at Wentworth in the week after next fortnight's Dubai Desert Classic to choose a successor to Paul McGinley.
As well, the 2016 captaincy vote is on the agenda for discussion at next week's Players Championship meeting in Doha.
Seven Scots will tee-up in the UAE capital including Marc Warren and returning to play after a month's break.
And Warren's looking forward to being at the pointed end of the event featuring the world's top-two ranked players in Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson.
" I have got a bit of experience in the past of playing well in Dubai or in the Majors when there have been strong fields," said Warren.
"I seem to enjoy it when the fields are strong and take some confidence if I can go into the weekend on the leaderboard against them.
"But then I have to admit after not touching a club for four weeks my expectations are lower than they might have been but it's an exciting week with lots of World Ranking points up for grabs."
Joining Warren is another Glaswegian Chris Doak, and traveling for a first time overseas with three-month old daughter, Eva.
However his only concern is getting more friendly with a new set of Srixon irons and ball after having missed the cut in last week's South African Open by a shot with scores of 76 and 71.
"The Glendower Course last week was set up really tough but then my iron play improved in the second round and I hope I get it going here because it's a great course," said Doak.
Borders David Drysdale, 11th in South Africa, is another Scot in the Abu Dhabi field but top Scot Stephen Gallacher has delayed his season return until next week's Qatar Masters thus giving himself a hopeful four rounds in Doha ahead of attempting to capture the following week's Omega Dubai Desert Classic for the third year running.
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