Daly backs Mickelson as Ryder golf captain

Double major winner John Daly has brushed aside any notion of a US Ryder Cup task force, declaring Phil Mickelson should lead the American team in 2016 in Minnesota.

Daly, who posted an opening round of 69 on Thursday at the Turkish Airlines Open, captured the 1991 PGA Championship and 1995 British Open but remains the only American to have won a major and not play on a Ryder Cup team.

However, he insists the answer to ending an American run of three successive losses does not lie with a task force suggested by the US PGA.

“I don’t know where they’re going with a task force, I really don’t, as they should just go ahead and pick a captain,” said Daly.

“My view is that Phil Mickelson should be the next captain and play at Hazeltine.

“Phil seems to thrive on Ryder Cup competition, does well when he plays. He knows everything about the Ryder Cup so maybe it should be him or Tiger Woods who should be the next captain.

“We’ve had playing captains over the years, so why not in 2016?”

And while Daly has never tasted Ryder Cup competition, he believes he could still contribute if appointed a vice-captain.

“I know I will never be a captain but it would be fun and an experience if I could be involved in some way, as I could keep the guys loose and ensure they have a bit of fun,” he added.

“But then, if they picked Phil, he will have a full team respect. He knows the workings of the PGA of America, given he’s been a three-times PGA Champion, so he would be a great player.

“And it’s not rocket science why the European Team has been winning and it doesn’t need a task force to work it out.”

Daly is competing on an invitation in Turkey and in his final event of the year after sharing 29th place in last week’s PGA Tour event in Jackson, Mississippi.

In April, Daly will turn 49 which will be three months ahead of the 20th anniversary of his playoff victory at the British Open at St Andrews where the 2015 championship is to be staged.

“I’m just looking forward to going back to St Andrews so much and, since they adopted this five-year rotation of playing the Old Course, it’s been great,” he said.

“I just love St Andrews so much whether I play good or bad as it’s my favourite golf course.”

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