Bernhard Langer has formally announced that he will attempt to become a playing member of the European team at The Ryder Cup in 2006, relinquishing the captaincy he held in 2004.
Langer said, ‘I wish to end all speculation that I will serve a second term as captain. I have officially informed The European Tour Tournament Committee through the chairman, Jamie Spence, that I have every intention of being a playing member of the 2006 European Team.
‘Both my wife Vikki and I have the most wonderful memories of the week in Detroit - memories that will never fade - but playing golf remains No. 1 on my priority list. I have made a solid start to this year and I intend to play a full schedule.
‘It was a great honor to be The European Team captain, and I am particularly proud of the place that the 2004 team now holds in the record books, but it is the turn of one of my colleagues to take the reins. I look forward to playing on his team in Ireland!’
The tournament committee of The European Tour will meet in Dubai on March 1 to discuss the captain for The 2006 Ryder Cup Matches.
Spence, the chairman of the Tournament Committee, said: ‘It is the intention of the Committee to issue an invitation following that meeting to one of our members to become the next captain, and if this is forthcoming then we will announce the captain at a media conference on Wednesday March 2.
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