Q. Playing like this the way you're playing now, will that change your mind about the Ryder Cup?
IAN WOOSNAM: No.
Q. Your hat is still in the ring?
IAN WOOSNAM: Yeah. Doesn't matter if I won this week or won the next two tournaments. I'm at the age to do the Ryder Cup. It all depends who gets chosen for the Ryder Cup next, really.
Q. Do you know who you are up against?
IAN WOOSNAM: I presume I'm up against Langer and Lyle, I guess.
Q. Is that official?
IAN WOOSNAM: I don't really know. No one tells me what's going on, to tell you the truth.
Q. When you apply, do you just put your name forward or do you almost have to put a curriculum vitae?
IAN WOOSNAM: I sent a letter in. I can't believe -- Sam was invited to be captain and the Ryder Cup committee decided that. Now I guess a few people want to do it so they have got to go through the committee now.
Q. Would you like to know a bit more of what's going on?
IAN WOOSNAM: Well, you know, all of a sudden, it's going to be decided, it's going to be this week and now it's gone back to the Open or something. Somebody's got to make a decision at the end of the day.
Q. What do you think of the new qualification?
IAN WOOSNAM: Yeah, I think the new qualification, it's perfect, really. It needed to be done. The other system has worked for us very well over the years, but I think now it needs to go to a different system.
Q. Do you think that just the letter is all you're expected to do or do you think you might need to go somewhere and tell some people why you think you would be a good captain?
IAN WOOSNAM: Well, if that happens -- if that has to happen, I don't think there's a lot of people -- if they don't know why I wouldn't be a good captain, there's something wrong with the system.
Q. It's just a letter?
IAN WOOSNAM: It's just a letter. I don't see why you should have to send a letter, really. I suppose officially you have to send a letter, yeah.
Q. Have you had a word with Sandy and Bernhard about it?
IAN WOOSNAM: I spoke to Sandy last year sometime because he wanted to put his name forward, too, put his name forward to be Ryder Cup captain, and he asked me what I thought. I said, well, I guess you just write a letter to whom it's concerned and that's what he's done. So he's put his name forward as well.
Q. He said he gave it to Mark James.
IAN WOOSNAM: Yeah, he's the chairman.
Q. Would you have Sandy as your vice captain if he didn't get picked and you did?
IAN WOOSNAM: I'm not going to say anything. If I'm captain, I won't say who is going to be my vice captain yet.
Q. Everyone thought it was going to be you, but how disappointed would you be now if that's not so?
IAN WOOSNAM: Well, it's very difficult, the situation. I would rather see maybe Langer do it this next time because I think it would be perfect in America. And I think I'd do a good job in Ireland. That would be perfect, really. The thing is, if I'm not going to be sort of guaranteed for three years time or four years time, I want to have a shot at doing it this time. I don't want to be passed over in three years time.
Q. In other words, you think it should be the same system as it was Mark and then Sam and then it should be Bernhard and then you?
IAN WOOSNAM: Yeah. I think we're both willing to do that.
Q. How important is it that you've been a No. 2, to your case?
IAN WOOSNAM: Very important. I learned a lot being there with Sam. I didn't realize how much went on behind the scenes. The players are demanding, really. I never think the clothes are going to be right and so much. I know it is difficult when you play more on your own ground. It is different when you're going to America and everything is done for you there. But it is different in Europe.
It's great. It's a very great experience and I learned a lot, talked a lot about the pairings, doing a little bit of speeches to the players and keeping the motivation going. Younger guys, what are you going to say to them? Say the right thing to them to keep it going.
Q. Do you think it's too late to be the double ticket, if you like; Bernhard and you?
IAN WOOSNAM: I would love to think it wasn't. It would, to me, it would be perfect.
Q. Can you just say, speaking of younger players, Niclas Fasth --
IAN WOOSNAM: "Niclas Slow"? (Laughter.)
Q. The thing about him is that players say he's very strong mentally.
IAN WOOSNAM: Very strong mentally. Some of the times when you sort of think, well, he can hit a 4-iron and an 8-iron on the green, just gets at his 3-wood and bashes it straight down and goes in with a 7-iron. Very confident, very focused. Sometimes for me a little bit slow, but that's the way he gets into focus. He's all into what he's doing, really. Very solid. He's turned into a very, very solid player.
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