Club Car Thanks You: Captain Clarke Adds Fifth Vice-Captain

The European Ryder Cup team's vice captain squad has swollen to five, potentially boosting Club Car's third quarter revenues as Darren Clarke looks to become the first captain to have a shuttle driver for every two players.

According to a BBC report, 2002 winning captain Sam Torrance joins Ian Poulter, Paul Lawrie, Thomas Bjorn and Padraig Harrington on Clarke's coaching squad at Hazeltine in Minnesota.

Oddsmakers have installed Mark James, Neil Coles, Peter Alliss and a hologram of J.H. Taylor as co-frontrunners to grab the next vice-captain spot.

The full release:

DARREN CLARKE NAMES SAM TORRANCE AS HIS FIFTH VICE CAPTAIN FOR THE 2016 RYDER CUP
 
Darren Clarke, the European Captain for The 2016 Ryder Cup, has named Sam Torrance as his fifth and final Vice Captain for the match against the United States at Hazeltine National in September.

The 62 year old Scotsman will bring not only a wealth of experience to Clarke’s backroom team – having played for Europe on eight consecutive occasions between 1981 and 1995 – he will also bring the knowledge of what it takes to be a winning captain in the biennial contest, having led Europe to victory at The Belfry in 2002.

It was also at the English venue that Torrance enjoyed his greatest Ryder Cup moment as a player when, in 1985, he holed his famous curling putt across the 18th green to beat Andy North and secure the winning point as Europe went on to record a 16 ½ - 11 ½ triumph.

The man who still holds the record number of European Tour appearances with 706, also knows what it takes to succeed in the Ryder Cup arena in the US, having been part of the team which won at Muirfield Village in 1987 – the 15-13 success representing Europe’s first triumph on American soil.

Comments

[DavidC]

Geoff, I want to tell you that you have milked this cart driver thing long enough, but then they go and add #5! I fear for spectators at Hazeltine with this many people whizzing around the place in buggies! Though if JH Taylor wants to come back in hologram form, I'd pay to watch that cart driving.

[ol Harv]

Why don't they just go ahead and add an ass. captain for each player? We know it's going to get there in another 2 or 3 Cups so just do it already. Can we please get a statement from Jackie Burke on this?

[PGT]

Most total tournament wins from this point forward: Tiger Woods or hologram J.H. Taylor?

[Peter Norrie]

It's a stressful week - Darren needs a drinking buddy!

[Ivan Morris]

Jobs for the boys with plenty of jollies attached.

[Pat(another one)]

Must be nice to just be able to spend money and not care.

[thusgone]

Looks like Clarkie has adopted the PGA TOUR's VP management model.

[jjshaka]

Sam is like the Don Zimmer of Ryder Cups...a good luck charm that is also pretty smart to have around.
Kind of hope Europe wins just to see Sam and Darren "celebrate".

[Greg]

FIVE vice-captains? There are only TWELVE players and the last time I looked they're all adults and professional golfers who will be accompanied by multiple coaches, mentors and caddies. It's unfortunately typical of all modern sports. Basketball teams with 4 assistant coaches and the NFL teams have coaches for every position on the team. The nanny state and generation snowflake in full bloom.

[V.Lind]

It's really just a chance to let buddies into the team room, especially buddies who are useful enough to contribute (if desired). Sam, for all he's a throwback, has his uses, and is generally filled with bonhomie.

[KPK]

"DARREN CLARKE NAMES SAM TORRANCE AS HIS FIFTH VICE CAPTAIN FOR THE 2016 RYDER CUP"

The Americanization of the GB&I team. Very disappointing.

[Ecannondale]

Your headline made me laugh. Party hearty, Euros!

[V.Lind]

Lee Westwood will be pleased. Means he will be picked.