Colin Montgomerie and Nick Faldo are ready to go head-to-head in their bid to emulate Sam Torrance and captain a European Ryder Cup team to victory on Irish soil.
While Ian Woosnam and Bernhard Langer are vying to lead the team in the United States in 2004, Montgomerie and Faldo both want the job in Ireland in 2006 when the Americans visit the K-Club in County Kildare.
"Very much so," was Montgomerie's response today when asked if he was a candidate, and Faldo also wants to be in the running.
"It's gone from not being spoilt for choice to people queuing up," said Faldo, who intends to make up for the disappointment of not being part of this year's winning team at The Belfry by gearing his next year's programme to earning a place in the team for 2004.
The six-time major champion, who has been suffering from elbow trouble, said: "The goal next year is to have an easier time until September and then make a decision on how hectic to make my schedule to make the team."
But Montgomerie has no intention of easing up yet. He is looking forward to a two-week holiday in Barbados over Christmas and New Year, when he will leave his clubs at home - "I think I'd get shot if I took them on the family holiday" - and will then embark on a fresh golf year with a new set after switching from Callaway to Hogan.
It will be very much business as usual with a schedule of 16 to 18 tournaments and he claimed: "I have never looked forward to a season starting as much as I am 2003.
"I'm 40 in June and it comes up awfully quickly but I hope I don't have to prove anything. At the same time I want to maintain my place in the top 10 in the world. That's my goal for the end of the year. That means I must improve because the standard around me is improving all the time."
PA