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Daly backs Phil to lead USA

Istanbul - Double Major winning John Daly has brushed aside any notion of a USA Ryder Cup task force, declaring Phil Mickelson should lead the American team in 2016 at Hazeltine.

Daly, who posted an opening round of 69 on Thursday at the Turkish Airlines Open, captured the 1991 PGA Championship and 1995 British Open but remains the only American to have won a Major and not play on a USA Ryder Cup team.

However he insists that the answer to ending an American run of three successive losses does not lie with a "task force" suggested by the US PGA.

"I don't know where they're going with a task force, I really don't as they should just go ahead and pick a captain," said Daly.

"My view is that Phil Mickelson should be the next captain and play at Hazeltine.

"Phil seems to thrive on Ryder Cup competition, does well when he plays. He knows everything about the Ryder Cup so maybe it should be him or Tiger Woods who should be the next captain.

"We've had playing captains over the years, so why not in 2016?"

And while Daly has never tasted Ryder Cup competition, he believes he could still contribute if appointed a vice-captain.

"I know I will never be a captain but it would be fun and an experience if I could be involved in some way as I could keep the guys loose and ensure they have a bit of fun," he added.

"But then if they picked Phil he will have a full team respect. He knows the workings of the PGA of America given he's been a three-times PGA Champion, so he would be a great player.

"And it's not rocket science why the European Team has been winning and it doesn't need a task force to work it out."

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