WATFORD (UNITED KINGDOM) - European Ryder Cup officials look set to bring forward the date for naming their captain to spearhead their 2018 title bid, former skipper Paul McGinley said Friday.
Paul McGinley hinted the process of naming a European Ryder Cup captain is more than likely to be brought forward
The United States claimed the Ryder Cup for the first time since 2008 earlier this month beating Europe by six-points in Hazeltine.
The appointment of a new European captain has always taken place in late January, some 20 months ahead of the Ryder Cup.
But 2014 captain McGinley hinted the process is more than likely to be brought forward to prior to Christmas.
Joining McGinley in the selection process will be European Tour CEO Keith Pelley along with losing Hazeltine captain Darren Clarke and a Tournament Players Committee representative.
"Generally, Europe appoint a new captain the other side of Christmas and it depends on our schedules but then there is a lot of work to do if Europe is going to win the next Ryder Cup, and having a captain in place is a big part of that," said McGinley.
"So we may bring that decision forward and though it's not my decision, that would be my view.
"We do need to get the ball rolling quickly with a new captain if we are going to win back that Ryder Cup."
Fellow Irishman Graeme McDowell, who missed out on selection for Hazeltine, said: "I heard Darren (Clarke) say that one of his pieces of advice was to get the captain picked a little earlier.
"I think this time around it's maybe important to put Hazeltine behind us and start focusing on France, so maybe announcing a captain and bring that process forward and start to rebuild."
Thomas Bjorn, as Chairman of the Tournament Players Committee, is expected to take over from Clarke and will certainly have McGinley's vote given the Dane was so supportive of McGinley when Colin Montgomerie became a late candidate for the Gleneagles captaincy.
But McGinley, ever the diplomat, would not go as far to rubber stamp Bjorn as his choice.
"We have to put all our cards on the table while there is a lot of information to gather, and like the last time, I have a lot of players to speak to that will help me formulate my own ideas," he said.
McGinley and McDowell were commenting after the second round of the British Masters and with McGinley signing for a four-under par 67 to move five under par while McDowell shot a second straight 68 for a six under par.