Jose Maria Olazabal might easily have been made Ryder Cup captain by now if he had said months ago he wanted the job.
But now he has finally declared himself available for selection, the Spaniard has heavyweight competition in the shape of Colin Montgomerie ahead of the decision next Wednesday.
Not that Olazabal should worry about missing out totally like Sandy Lyle. If Montgomerie is still put in charge for Celtic Manor next year then Olazabal would appear to be a certainty for Chicago in 2012.
Assistant to Nick Faldo in the Louisville defeat last September, the 42-year-old from San Sebastian was reported to have done a fine job.
He looked a natural successor but, despite the rheumatism that had kept him out of action for much of the year, said he wanted to play next time and so the guessing game started.
Montgomerie, who said the same thing, spoke up for fellow Scot Lyle, while 2006 captain Ian Woosnam was in the running, too, for the first-ever match on Welsh soil. Miguel Angel Jimenez's name was mentioned as well.
Then, however, came the lengthy tournament committee meeting in Abu Dhabi last week.
Montgomerie was in attendance, but was out of the room for some time and speculation began that was to allow his colleagues to discuss whether the time was right for him to take over.
Previously the eight-time European number one had been earmarked for home soil at Gleneagles in 2014, but the need for a younger man than Faldo seemed to be one decision that was made.
Montgomerie would be the same age - 51 - as Faldo at Gleneagles and, with the odds on him being made captain next year tumbling after the meeting, it was generally assumed he had made himself available and that had got out.
All that might have been dependent, though, on Olazabal finally deciding he did not want to be considered. Now his manager has said he does.
"He is available - if he is offered the job he will say 'yes'," Sergio Gomez said.
"We know it is a matter of two and there are factors favouring Jose Maria and factors favouring Monty."
Olazabal has played only two events since last May and pulled out of this week's event in Qatar, but does plan to play the Dubai Desert Classic starting next Thursday.
"He had a small problem with his wrists and forearms and it was painful when gripping the club, but not too severe and he told me yesterday to confirm the flights," added Gomez.
"But the chances of him making the team are not what he wanted or expected, so he made up his mind that he would accept the captaincy if it was offered."
Apart from being the older of the two, Montgomerie has been heckled in the United States in the past and it was always more likely he would be asked to lead Europe on this side of the Atlantic.
Olazabal has had no such difficulties with American fans in his career, the invasion of the 17th green in Boston in 1999 having nothing to do with the fact it was him playing Justin Leonard.
He behaved diplomatically then while still conveying how wrong the premature celebrating was and is regarded as a safe pair of hands.
There are disadvantages to being an away captain, though, as Faldo discovered. Opposite number Paul Azinger could set up the Valhalla course how he wanted and he could use the crowd as a "13th man".
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