Ireland's Des Smyth will use his invitation to attend this year's Ryder Cup to better his chances of captaining the 2006 match when it is played at The K Club in Kildare.

Past Ryder Cup players have been invited to this year's match at The Belfry to attend the opening ceremony and other functions and the 49-year-old Smyth sees that as a golden opportunity to push his case for captaincy.

Smyth and contemporaries Eamonn Darcy and Christy O'Connor Junior are mounting serious bids for the captaincy at The K Club and the trio have been disturbed by reports that a non-Irish captain could be installed for the 2006 match against the US.

Bernhard Langer, Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie are some of the other names touted.

But Smyth has been given the thumbs up from golfing pundits and Irish players, with Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley among those pushing for him to lead the European team in Ireland.

Speaking yesterday at Gleneagles, before he makes his bid for the Scottish PGA title starting today (live on Sky Sports 2, 11 a.m.) Smyth said: "I'll definitely use the Ryder Cup to mention it to those in charge that I am seeking the captaincy for 2006.

"It's still two years away before they make the announcement but there's no harm in sounding out the right people and telling them I'm interested in the job."

Smyth and Philip Walton are Ireland's only players in the Gleneagles event while defending champion Paul Casey feels he has let himself down in his second season as a professional, but plans to make amends by successfuly defending his title this week.

Australian Adam Scott (61st) is the highest ranked player competing over the Centenary course, while former US Amateur champion Bubba Dickerson, who turned professional after this year's US Masters, is making his European Tour debut.