What Does a Vice-Captain Do?

I don't think anyone knows for sure what a Ryder Cup vice-captain does, but Sam Torrance sure is glad that Paul McGinley decided to stop being one for current Captain Nick Faldo this past week.

"I thought it was absolutely horrific of Faldo to ask Olazabal and McGinley to be vice-captains. It was a real mistake in my mind. The vice-captains can't do anything, unless you have something you specifically want them to do. And I can't think of anything they need to be doing nine months before an event. They should come in with six weeks to go, and talk to the players, look after them if need be. But to ask two current players - to me that's just an insult. And now McGinley's pulled out, which I think is great. He now has the chance to get his head down, and get on with his game."

I think I have to side with Torrance on this particular case. Paul McGinley still has an honest shot to become a member of the Ryder Cup team. So, too, hypothetically does Olazabal (pronounced in Europe as "o-laz-a-bawl").

But, then I re-read what Torrance said and come to find out that these two have absolutely zero responsibility related to the Ryder Cup until well after they could fall short of making the team on their own. So, they are perfectly able to not only accept their positions, but also keep striving to make the team.

I understand why Torrance might consider this an insult. After all, it is kind of an assumption by Faldo that these two fellows have no chance in making the team. Or is it? Perhaps it was a move in reverse psychology by Faldo to inspire these veterans to make the team. Either way, Faldo's actions will automatically be taken in the negative as he was/is not especially popular among the European players. The attitude of the Old Guard toward Faldo may wind up having a negative influence on the younger players that will almost certainly make up the team. In that case, the Americans may be able to benefit.