Paul Lawrie On Potential 'Joke' Ryder Cup Captaincy Selection

Paul Lawrie pictured in Ryder Cup gear — (Image credit: Getty Images)

Paul Lawrie fears that the Ryder Cup captaincy selection could be "a joke" if Thomas Bjorn is named Europe's replacement skipper for 2023 despite being on the voting panel.

Lawrie, the 1999 Open champion and two-time Ryder Cupper, is one of the contenders to replace Henrik Stenson after the Swede relinquished the role to join LIV Golf.

The Scot was vice captain to Darren Clarke at Hazeltine in 2016 and will be near the top of the selection list alongside the likes of Bjorn, Luke Donald and Robert Karlsson for the newly-vacant Rome 2023 job. However, Lawrie has heard of Bjorn becoming captain again "being bandied about" and has implied that he shouldn't get the job due to being on the selection panel

The process is the process,” Lawrie told The Telegraph at last week's Senior Open.

“My situation has not changed, I assume they just go back to the way they did it before, with the five guys voting on the other three people who were up for the job initially.

“I’m led to believe that might not be the case. And if it’s not the case then it’s a joke, to be honest.

“You hear Thomas' name being bandied about now. I don’t see how that can be the case. He’s voting. How can you get the job when you are voting? Now that Henrik is out of the picture, surely the same five people vote for the three who were up for the job in the first place.

“You can’t change the rules. The process is the process. Let’s see. It’ll be fun and games if it’s not, I’m telling you.”

It remains to be seen who Europe's next Ryder Cup captain will be, with an announcement expected soon ahead of the match starting in just 14 months' time.

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Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He covered the 2022 and 2025 Masters from Augusta National and was there by the 18th green to watch Rory McIlroy complete the career grand slam. He has also covered five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews.