Ryder Cup hero Lee Westwood has backed Darren Clarke to be the next European captain in 2016.

The English golfer played a major role as Paul McGinley's side beat the USA at Gleneagles over the weekend.

"It’s about the right time in Darren’s career to take up the captaincy," he told Sky Sports News.

McGinley said yesterday he was stepping down from the position and is on a five-man panel who will decide the next captain.

He also insisted that his strained relationship with Clarke would not influence his decision.