October 2004: Bernhard named European Tour 'Golfer of the Month' Bernhard Langer has been named European Tour 'Golfer of the Month' for September. It is a tribute to his outstanding captaincy of the European Ryder Cup Team, who's record win at Oakland Hills brought the trophy back from America. Accepting the trophy, Bernhard dedicated the award to his team saying “I am very proud and honoured to receive this award. However, as Captain, I could only do so much in terms of preparation and organisation. The players did the hard work. They hit the shots on the course and this award is as much for all of them as it is for me”. For the full story, please link to http://www.europeantour.com/news/fullstory.sps?id=1112782&iTourID=1 The victorious Ryder Cup team are the bookies clear favourites to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 'Team of the Year' award in December. August 2003: Bernhard Langer to be 2004 European Ryder Cup Captain Bernhard has accepted an invitation from The Ryder Cup Board to be Captain of the European Team for The 35th Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills America, in September 2004. Interviewed about the captaincy, Bernhard said: “It’s a fabulous honour to be named European Captain. I’ve never made a secret of how much I enjoy being part of The Ryder Cup, and to be the Captain makes me feel very proud, especially as the first German golfer to hold this prestigious role. It has been an enlightening experience to play under five Ryder Cup Captains in John Jacobs, Tony Jacklin, Bernard Gallacher, Seve Ballesteros and Sam Torrance. They are all very different in their own way and, hopefully, I can take a little of what I have learned from all of them to live up to the very high standards they set in the 24 years since The Ryder Cup was opened up to Continental Europe as well as Great Britain and Ireland. The Ryder Cup has given me many outstanding memories over the past two decades and more, from the first time I teed-up alongside Manuel Piñero at Walton Heath in 1981 through to my last singles match at The De Vere Belfry against, coincidentally, Hal Sutton, my opposing American Captain next September. I was fortunate enough to beat Hal that day and perhaps that is a good omen for next year’s Matches!” I must confess I have mixed reactions about this news! Of course I’m delighted for Bernhard, and it will be fantastic to see him play such a major role in the Ryder Cup next year. If he brings the Cup back from America his popularity will increase, although Sam Torrance will be a really tough act to follow. There is no doubt that he has earned his right to be Captain and he will have the respect of all involved in the competition – European and American. But I was really hoping he would be part of the playing team in 2004. That’s because he only needs one more Ryder Cup playing appearance to match Nick Faldo’s record for the most Ryder Cup appearances, and he needs just one and a half points to become the Ryder Cup’s most prolific points scorer (Faldo again holds this record with 25 points from 11 appearances; Bernhard is second with 24 from 10 appearances). Of course, had Mark James picked Bernhard (as he should have done) for the 1999 Brookline Ryder Cup, the records might already have been Bernhard’s by now. Maybe he can make the team for the K club in 2006 and break the record there! Meanwhile it will be an exciting time counting down to the next Ryder Cup, and Bernhard’s media profile will be raised for sure. Europe has a fine Captain. Posted 1.8.2003