Clarke denies captaincy claims
Darren Clarke has categorically denied being invited to become Europe's next Ryder Cup captain.
Last year's Open champion, one of Jose Maria Olazabal's assistants in Chicago two weeks ago, went on Twitter following reports and said: "To clarify..I have not been offered the Ryder Cup captaincy.
"It's not decided by the committee until January. Would be a huge honour if asked."
Clarke and Paul McGinley, another of the Medinah vice-captains, are the two front-runners for the job at Gleneagles in 2014.
Lee Westwood has come out in favour of
Ryder Cup director Richard Hills on Wednesday afternoon sought to dampen some of the speculation regarding the identity of the next European skipper.
He said: "No decision on the European captain for the 2014 Ryder Cup has been taken and none will be taken until at the earliest when the Tournament Committee next meets, most probably during the Middle East swing in early 2013."
his former cup partner, but world number one Rory McIlroy has said he thinks Clarke might be a better fit for the match in Minnesota in 2016.