On the other hand I felt I realistically only had two chances to be Captain, next year and then the Matches in Ireland in 2006. Now I am Captain I am thrilled and excited.
"When I look back it is difficult to pick out any one Captain as a role model if you like. I played under John Jacobs, Tony Jacklin, Bernard Gallacher, Seve Ballesteros and Sam Torrance and each was terrific in his own way. I'm sure I will take something from each of them.
"Will I play more in Europe now I am Captain? It's difficult to say yet. I presently play my required 11 events and I will do that next year obviously. My home is still in Germany here but the centre of my life, my family, is in America where children are in school. The kids have no problem with who they support despite their mum being American. They support Europe. Last year Jackie and Stefan were with me at The Belfry. They were even in the European Team Room and they definitely wanted us to win.
"I didn't play in Boston obviously but I watched on TV and I know what happened there. Will it happen again next time? I hope not but you never know. What I do know is that the Americans might say we have misbehaved at times when the Matches have been over this side of the Atlantic so this is not just one way. But I was really impressed with the atmosphere and the fans last September and I know Hal (Sutton) was too. We will continue on that basis and I hope the press and fans will support us and the Matches will be a gentlemanly affair. I know Hal pretty well, better over the last couple of years because we are both Ben Hogan players and we have spent a lot of time together doing TV commercials are equipment testing. For me Hal is a gentleman and carries himself well.
"I don't know who will be vice-captain, or if there will be more than one. I haven't wanted to get ahead of myself. Now I am Captain I will think about it but nobody, whether it is Sandy Lyle or whoever, is yet ruled in or ruled out.
"I no longer believe that payment to the players is an issue. Actually, it was the way the profits were dispersed that I had a problem with. Too much seemed to be going to the British PGA, an organisation that does not mean too much to us Continentals. But now The European Tour gets more of the money and a significant amount goes to the European PGA and some goes towards assisting in funding some of our smaller events so the money comes back to all the players as well as promoting the game and this is good.
"I have so many wonderful memories of my Ryder Cups. All meant something special but perhaps our first win in the USA at Muirfield Village in 1987 is the most special. Few people had expected us to win at The Belfry two years earlier but even fewer thought we would win in the States. That was the most wonderful golf of my life that week. I still enjoy thinking about my match on the Saturday afternoon when I partnered Sandy Lyle against Lanny Wadkins and Larry Nelson and we came to the last hole one up and then Lanny knocked his ball into a few feet, Sandy got inside him and I then hit it to 12 inches. That was something. Even when I missed the putt at Kiawah four years later I managed to take something positive from the experience. I was two down to Hale Irwin when I was told on the 15th tee that the outcome rested on my match. I played some wonderful golf after that and even though I missed that putt at the last because of two spike marks I was able to take comfort in the fact that I had done my absolute best.
"I have always been happy to play alongside anyone in the Team. Oh, there were some players I would have liked to play with, the men in great form, but I always felt that it made the Captain's job easier if I just said 'partner me with anyone'. However, I understand when players have a serious preference. It is better if they are not negative and say they do not want to play with someone because they dislike that person but if they feel strongly that they wish to play with a certain player then it would be foolish for me as as captain to ignore them. For a start it makes my job easier. That is then a pairing and I can consider fewer options.