Sutton takes over for Detroit showdown
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Your support makes all the difference.Hal Sutton was confirmed last night as captain of the American Ryder Cup team for the 2004 match at Oakland Hills, near Detroit.
The 44-year-old takes over from Curtis Strange, who was widely criticised for his decision to put Tiger Woods out last in the singles at The Belfry last month. Europe won back the trophy before Woods had a chance to influence the result. There was always going to be a change in any case – no American has been retained for a second match as captain since Ben Hogan in 1949 – and Sutton was the favourite.
The highly-respected former US PGA champion was America's top points-scorer in Boston three years ago, but played only two games at The Belfry after a dramatic loss of form this season.
Europe have held the cup aloft at three of the last four, and six of the last nine matches, and the 151/2-121/2 victory at The Belfry was the largest winning margin in 17 years.
With Sam Torrance having resisted calls to stay on, the captaincy of Europe will be discussed at the next meetings of the players' committee and Ryder Cup Committee. Ian Woosnam,the vice-captain to Torrance, has thrown his hat into the ring, but Nick Faldo has removed his because he wants to play in the match again. Bernhard Langer, meanwhile, is weighing up his candidature.
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