Ryder Cup:Nick Faldo has named Ireland's Paul McGinley and Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal as his two assistants at next year's Ryder Cup, providing they don't qualify to play on the team.
The pair were on the side that gave Europe another record win over the Americans at the K-Club last September and have both made it clear to Faldo their number one objective is to be part of the team going to Valhalla in Kentucky where Europe aim to make it four consecutive wins in the biennial team event.
But Europe's new captain is happy to proceed on that basis and will make a late change to his back-up team if it proves necessary towards the end of qualifying next August.
McGinley, 40, has been a member of the last three victorious sides, most famously sinking the winning putt at The Belfry in 2002.
Olazabal, 41, and compatriot Seve Ballesteros formed the most successful partnership in cup history - only two defeats in 15 games together - and was inspirational again at the K Club on his return to the team after a gap of seven years.
"They are two guys I have good chemistry with," said Faldo today at Wentworth, where the BMW PGA Championship, the European Tour's flagship event, begins on Thursday.
"One is based mainly in the United States (Olazabal) and one based mainly in Europe (McGinley) and to have two players of their character and playing stature is very important to me."
