While seven-times European number one Colin Montgomerie called Bernhard Langer the obvious choice as the 2004 Ryder Cup captain, the appointment is tinged with regret for the Scot.
"Bernhard was the obvious choice but it will be a great shame if 2002 was his last Ryder Cup as a player," Montgomerie said on Wednesday ahead of the inaugural Nordic Open.
"I would say that even in September 2004 Bernhard would be among the top 12 best players in Europe."
The 40-year-old Montgomerie, tipped for future captaincy himself, has had great success playing with Langer.
In his first Ryder Cup, Montgomerie made his first point playing alongside Langer in 1991.
Then in 1997 the pair gleaned two points and lost one match. Last year at The Belfry the duo were undefeated in their three matches, earning 2 1/2 points, and giving them an overall record of played seven, won five, halved one, lost one.