Ballesteros Next European Captain? He Won’t Say ‘Si’

Only moments after the Duke of York, Prince Andrew, presented the Ryder Cup to the United States Sunday at The Belfry, Europe’s captain, Bernard Gallacher, recommended his successor for the next competition between the two sides in 1995 at Oak Hill in Rochester, N.Y.

“Seve should be the captain next time,” said Gallacher, who had announced hisintention to resign before the matches began last week.

All of the European players who were within earshot of Gallacher applauded ex-cept for one, Seve Ballesteros.

“As you all know, my English is very poor,” the Spaniard said. “We have to send a captain to New York, not only someone with a very good record but someone who speaks verygood English.”

He nominated an Englishman, Nick Faldo.

The reply from the flustered Faldo was unintelligible.

“Now,” Ballesteros said, laughing, “he don’t speak English so good.”

Because the 1997 Ryder Cup probably will be play-ed in Spain, Gallacher saidthat Ballesteros, 36, should be an appointee covering two terms.

“It would be unthinkable for Seve not to be the captain in Spain,” Gallachersaid.

Speculation for a U.S.captain to replace Tom Watson in 1995 has focused onTom Kite and Lanny Wadkins, both of whom played in the Americans’ 15-13 vic-tory here.