European TourBrian KeoghMichael Hoey, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Damien McGrane, Darren Clarke, True Thailand ClassicComment

Miguel's Ryder Cup stance: "If I’m elected, I’ll be captain and if not, I’ll be trying to make the team anyway"

European TourBrian KeoghMichael Hoey, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Damien McGrane, Darren Clarke, True Thailand ClassicComment
Miguel's Ryder Cup stance: "If I’m elected, I’ll be captain and if not, I’ll be trying to make the team anyway"
Miguel Angel Jiménez in action in the True Thailand Classic at Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin. Picture: © Getty Images

Miguel Angel Jiménez in action in the True Thailand Classic at Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin. Picture: © Getty Images

What woud you get if you crossed Michael Hoey and Damien McGrane with Miguel Angel Jiménez, the halfway leader in the True Thailand Classic and one of the alternatives to Darren Clarke if you've got a vote for the Ryder Cup captaincy at Wentwort next Wednesday.

A small, determined, cigar-smoking Pádraig Harrington impersonator? Yes. The ideal golfer? Possibly. 

Hoey's length and flair, Jimenéz's accuracy and fairway wood wizadry and McGrane's relentless grinding would make for an incredible mixture. Alas, all three have their good and bad points.

At the age of 51, Jiménez is arguably the best senior in the world and still a potential major winner on the right course, at the time right.

As he said after shrugging off the effects of 'flu to shoot a six under 66 and lead by a shot from Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat (67) on 11 under par, he'd like to make the 2016 Ryder Cup team, never mind captain it.

Does he seriously want the captaincy, playing as well as he is right now?

"Well, if I’m selected of course I’ll be the captain," he told Nick Dye. "I’ve put my name in there and I’d be proud to lead the team if selected. You never know what will happen. If I’m elected I’ll be captain and if not I’ll be trying to make the team anyway."

Hoey celebrated his 36th birthday on Friday but could not replicate the fireworks of his course record 64 and had to settle for a level par 72 that left him tied for sixth, just three shots behind Jimenez on eight under.

Hoey looked frustated to fail to chip and putt for pars at the 12th and 16th and for birdie at the 18th. That said, his five-win career is one of the most special in the history of Irish tour golf and it would be unsual if he were to win a sixth tour event and fail to win Ryder Cup honours at some stage.

His best golf is clearly more than good enough but it remains to be seen if he is successful in achieving the kind of consistency he craves and needs to push for a place in the 2016 team.

If he were as relentlessly tough as McGrane appears to be, he might have a chance. Following an opening 74, the 43-year old Kells man looked to be heading for a missed cut.

Instead, he fired a five under 67 to make it with one shot to spare on three under.

As for the 2016 Ryder Cup, Darren Clarke was in the TaylorMade Performance Centre at the Darren Clarke Golf School in Antrim on Friday for his Player Day.

With the 2016 captaincy announcement expected on Wednesday afternoon, Clarke continued to play the diplomatic card.

"If it's Miguel, I would be delighted for him, but I would love to do the job," Clarke told BBC Northern Ireland. "To be the captain is huge, but he is only there to steer the players. It's not about the captain, it's about the team."

A five-man European Tour selection panel, including 2014-winning captain Paul McGinley, will make the decision.

Second Round Scores (79 players made the cut of 142, -2)

133 M Jiménez (Esp) 67 66,

134 K Aphibarnrat (Tha) 67 67,

135 T Jaidee (Tha) 69 66, R Lee (Can) 68 67, S Hend (Aus) 67 68,

136 M Baldwin (Eng) 69 67, J Carlsson (Swe) 69 67, M Hoey  (Nir) 64 72, T Lewis (Eng) 69 67,

137 R Karlberg  (Swe) 72 65, A Noren  (Swe) 67 70, C Pigem (Esp) 65 72, J Wang (Kor) 68 69, W Ormsby (Aus) 72 65, G Havret  (Fra) 69 68,

138 S Brazel (Aus) 69 69, H Chien-Yao (Tpe) 65 73, N Holman  (Aus) 71 67, D Lipsky (USA) 65 73, R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 72 66, J Kruger (RSA) 69 69, A Otaegui  (Esp) 69 69, P Meesawat  (Tha) 73 65, M Mamat (Sin) 70 68, A Dodt (Aus) 71 67, R Green (Aus) 71 67, R Wattel  (Fra) 70 68, J Knutzon (USA) 72 66,

139 P Marksaeng (Tha) 67 72, S Kapur (Ind) 66 73, P Uihlein  (USA) 69 70, E Grillo (Arg) 70 69, B Henson (USA) 70 69, R Wannasrichan (Tha) 68 71,

140 A Atwal (Ind) 73 67, F Aguilar (Chi) 70 70, M Kawamura (Jpn) 68 72, P Junhasavasdikul (Tha) 67 73, C Lloyd (Eng) 69 71, A Wall (Eng) 72 68, J Parry (Eng) 71 69, M Warren (Sco) 69 71, M Fraser (Aus) 69 71, P Maddy (Eng) 70 70, S Supupramai (Tha) 72 68, T Khrongpha (Tha) 68 72, P Peterson (USA) 68 72,

141 J Colomo  (Esp) 74 67, K Oda (Jpn) 70 71, M Ford (Eng) 67 74, J Randhawa (Ind) 71 70, S Lewton (Eng) 70 71, J Campillo (Esp) 73 68, Damien McGrane (Irl) 74 67, J Quesne  (Fra) 70 71, T Bjørn (Den) 69 72, A Lahiri (Ind) 69 72, B Rumford (Aus) 69 72, K Broberg (Swe) 70 71, J Edfors (Swe) 69 72, M Kieffer (Ger) 73 68, K Richardson (Aus) 73 68, A Vongvanij (Tha) 72 69,

142 T Pilkadaris (Aus) 69 73, M Carlsson  (Swe) 71 71, S Dyson  (Eng) 73 69, A Hansen (Den) 71 71, D Chia (Mas) 71 71, R Paratore (Ita) 67 75, S Jamieson  (Sco) 70 72, S Kang (Kor) 74 68, A Pavan (Ita) 70 72, P Tangkamolprasert (Tha) 71 71, M Korhonen (Fin) 73 69, C Plaphol (Tha) 71 71, J Pagunsan (Phi) 72 70, S Chawrasia (Ind) 71 71, J Barnes (Eng) 72 70, P Swangarunporn (Tha) 75 67,

CUT

143 P Saksansin (Tha) 75 68, P Naewsuk (Tha) 70 73, T Chuayprakong (Tha) 73 70, C Nirat (Tha) 71 72, M Perera (Sri) 70 73, K Pratt (Aus) 69 74, A Da Silva (Bra) 71 72, E De La Riva  (Esp) 72 71, M Lampert (Ger) 72 71, B Easton (RSA) 71 72, L Wei-Chih (Tpe) 72 71, U Park (Aus) 71 72, N Tantipokhakul (Tha) 72 71, L Weber (Fra) 69 74,

144 A Cañizares  (Esp) 71 73, R Gangjee (Ind) 74 70, G Bhullar (Ind) 74 70, P Khongwatmai (Tha) 74 70, S Rahman (Ban) 69 75, J Perttila (Fin) 73 71, N Fung (Mas) 73 71, M Foster (Eng) 74 70, 
145 P Supupramai (Tha) 73 72, S Baek (Kor) 73 72, F Zanotti (Par) 71 74, M Both (Aus) 73 72, A Lascuna (Phi) 73 72, G Charoenkul (Tha) 71 74,

146 U Duangdecha (Tha) 75 71, A Groom (Aus) 73 73, M Tullo (Chi) 73 73, S Barr (Aus) 73 73, A Johnston (Eng) 76 70, L Wen-Chong (Chn) 72 74, R Khan  (Ind) 74 72, S Kjeldsen (Den) 72 74, S Kooratanapisan (Tha) 75 71, P Pittayarat (Tha) 75 71, S Hutsby  (Eng) 73 73, I Buranatanyarat (Tha) 73 73,

147 J Premsirigorn (Tha) 75 72, C Phadungsil  (Tha) 74 73, J Singh (Ind) 73 74, J Janewattananond (Tha) 76 71, S Pongpaew (Tha) 73 74, A Que (Phi) 72 75,

148 R Finch  (Eng) 74 74, K Tannin (Tha) 75 73, J Higginbottom (Aus) 74 74, M Crespi  (Ita) 71 77, D Drysdale (Sco) 75 73, R Rock (Eng) 78 70,

149 M Tabuena (Phi) 75 74,

150 P Sonthirati (Tha) 75 75, M Lundberg (Swe) 77 73,

152 N Thippong (Tha) 74 78, C Doak (Sco) 76 76, T Wiratchant (Tha) 73 79, M Nixon (Eng) 77 75,

153 S Rattanakamphol (Tha) 77 76, J Lando Casanova  (Fra) 73 80, S Prakongvech (Tha) 74 79, J Lagergren (Swe) 77 76, T Poipong (Tha) 79 74,

154 P Rachataporn (Tha) 77 77, O Farr (Wal) 74 80,

159 S Hansapiban (Tha) 83 76,

162 P Pinprayong (Tha) 84 78,

** H Otto (RSA) 70 WD, S Khan (Eng) 78 WD, P Waring  (Eng) RT  0.