Darren Clarke is the owner of a brand spanking new commemorative bag to celebrate his Ryder Cup captaincy . The European Team showed off the bag on their Twitter account , tagging their captain in the post . Clarke will lead Europe 's bid for a fourth successive Ryder Cup victory for the 2016 contest with the United States at Hazeltine . Darren Clarke receives his special commemorative golf bag after being named Ryder Cup captain . Clarke looks in good spirits after being announced as Europe 's captain for the 2016 Ryder Cup . Years played : 1997 ( winners ) , 1999 , 2002 ( winners ) , 2004 , 2006 ( winners ) Total matches : 20 . Career record : Won 10 Lost 7 Halved 3 . Total points won : 11.5 . The 46-year-old Northern Irishman , who played in five Ryder Cups and was a vice-captain in 2010 and 2012 , was chosen ahead of Miguel Angel Jimenez and Thomas Bjorn by a five-man selection panel at Wentworth . Clarke said : ' I am naturally extremely proud to be selected as European Ryder Cup captain for 2016 . The Ryder Cup has been a massive part of my life and my career , so to have the chance to lead Europe next year is a huge honour . ' I am lucky to have played and worked under some fantastic captains in my seven Ryder Cups to date and I look forward to the challenge of trying to follow in their footsteps and help Europe to a fourth consecutive victory at Hazeltine next year . ' Europe team captain Paul McGinley celebrates winning the Ryder Cup with his team last year at Gleneagles . Earlier this week Turkey withdrew its bid to stage the Ryder Cup in 2022 , leaving five nations in the running ahead of inspection visits from tournament officials which will get under way this week . Ahmet Agaoglu , president of the Turkish Golf Federation , said : 'We have greatly enjoyed working on this project and assessing whether we would be in a position to launch a viable bid to host the 2022 Ryder Cup . 'Although we believe that Turkey is now an established golfing destination , with a collection of world-class courses , it has not proven possible to secure the necessary logistical arrangements in order to proceed and so we have reluctantly decided to withdraw from the process at this time . The Ryder Cup will not being taking place in Turkey in 2022 after the Turkish Golf Federation withdrew their bid . VIDEO Clarke the popular choice to lead Europe at Hazeltine .
Northern Ireland golfer Darren Clarke has been given a special golf bag . Clarke will lead Europe 's bid for a fourth successive Ryder Cup victory . The 46-year-old Northern Irishman was named captain 2022 . Earlier this week Turkey withdrew its bid to stage the Ryder Cup in earlier this month .