Miguel Angel Jimenez tipped to be next European Ryder Cup Captain

A nationwide Ryder Cup golf survey* commissioned by Europe’s No 1 golf retailer, American Golf, to coincide with the countdown to the 2016 Ryder Cup has revealed that UK golf fans believe that Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez should be the next Team Europe captain for the Ryder Cup set to be staged in France in 2018.

36% of survey respondents believe that Jimenez is the right man to lead the Europeans to Ryder Cup glory in 2018 whilst 20% favoured England’s Lee Westwood and 10% Sweden’s Thomas Bjorn. Jimenez, who has appeared in four Ryder Cups, doesn’t feature in this year’s showcase competition and has also openly stated his desire to take the captaincy in two years’ time

The survey also revealed that UK golf fans believe that it will be Englishman Justin Rose and American Jordan Spieth who will be the driving forces behind their teams on the course this year.

Further key survey findings are as follows:

Who has been the best European Ryder Cup Team Captain to date?

1. Seve Ballesteros 24%

2. Paul McGinley 15%

3. Tony Jacklin 12.7%

Who has been the best US Ryder Cup Team Captain to date?

1. Jack Nicklaus 25%

2. Tom Watson 24%

3. Paul Azinger 17%

Who is the greatest ever European Ryder Cup player?

1. Seve Ballesteros 51.7%

2. Ian Poulter 21%

3. Colin Montgomerie12%

Who is the greatest ever US Ryder Cup player?

1. Jack Nicklaus 47%

2. Tom Watson 19.7%

3. Arnold Palmer 10%

Who is should be the next European Ryder Cup Team Captain?

1. Miguel Angel Jimenez 36%

2. Lee Westwood 20.4%

3. Thomas Bjorn 10%

What is the most memorable Ryder Cup ‘moment’?

1. The ‘Miracle at Medina' (Poulter’s 4 straight birdies to turn the game) 44%

2. Darren Clarke’s emotional first tee reception after the death of his wife 20%

3. The ‘Concession’ (Nicklaus offers Jacklin a half to tie the match) 9.7%

Who has been the most entertaining player in Ryder Cup history?

1. Seve Ballesteros 43%

2. Ian Poulter 37%

3. Lee Trevino 4.6%

What’s the most annoying thing about following a Ryder Cup in the US?

1. Noise and bad sportsmanship of the supporters 62%

2. The time difference 23.6%

3. American showmanship 6.3%

Who do you expect to perform the best from Team Europe?

1. Justin Rose 36%

2. Henrik Stenson 30%

3. Rory McIlroy 12%

Who do you expect to perform the best from Team USA?

1. Jordan Spieth 23%

2. Zach Johnson 19.8%

3. Phil Mickleson 15.3%

According to Daniel Gathercole, Marketing Director, American Golf, “As excitement builds towards this year’s hotly anticipated 41^st Ryder Cup, we thought it would be timely to gather some insight from golf enthusiasts here in the UK. Whilst we’re named American Golf we will be rooting heavily for Darren Clarke’s Team Europe boys and hoping players like Justin and Rory rise to the occasion alongside up and coming stars like Matt Fitzpatrick.”

*Online survey undertaken from 1^st September -20^th September 2016. There were 2,196 male and female UK respondents. Survey hosted on American Golf website with links put out through social media amongst UK golfing communities.