2026 Platinum
It has appointed David Howell as the final member of the selection panel charged with the task of choosing the next captain.
The 39-year-old Englishman, who helped Europe to victory in 2004 and 2006, got the call on Tuesday October 7 ahead of the Portugal Masters later this week.
Howell, pictured here in 2006 wearing immaculate, lightly coloured golf trousers , joins a five-strong selection panel including three former captains - Colin Montgomerie, Jose Maria Olazabal and Paul McGinley.
George O'Grady, the chief executive of the European Tour, completes the line-up to select the captain for Hazeltine 2016.
Golf experts are suggesting that Howell's appointment boosts the likelihood of 43-year-old Thomas Bjorn's being awarded the captain's role. He has already been vice captain on three occasions.
Bjorn's main competition comes from Darren Clarke, Rory McIlroy, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Martin Kaymer and Lee Westwood.
Kaymer believes that Bjorn is performing too well to be made captain too early.
Meanwhile, Graeme McDowell has thrown his backing behind a growing campaign to have Clarke installed.
The tournament committee of the European Tour will announce its final decision in early 2015.
© Copyright Press Association
Play your best in our Men's Golf Trousers .