Thomas Björn ruled himself out of the running for the captaincy of the 2010 Europe Ryder Cup team yesterday, then seemed to prop the door open for José María Olazábal, who said this week that he would rather play in the team than captain it.

The decision would normally be made early in the new year by the European Tour’s tournament players’ committee — of which Björn is the chairman — but after a round of 69 at the Quinn Insurance British Masters at The Belfry, the Dane indicated for the first time that the announcement of the appointment could be delayed.

Olazábal’s season has been severely curtailed by rheumatism and fatigue this year and he is determined to get back to playing regularly again. Which is why he will not commit to a captain’s role if asked too soon.

The Spaniard was a popular vice-captain to Nick Faldo at Valhalla last week and said on his return to Europe: “I told the boys that my intention is that if I get healthy, I might hopefully be a playing partner in the next Ryder Cup. Then we’ll see after that.

“If they [the committee] wanted a decision by the end of this year, I’m not going to be able to give them that. My condition is improving and I’m feeling better. I’m looking to be back playing golf next year.”

Björn, who has also been injured this year, had every sympathy with such a view. His name has also been linked with the captaincy but, at 37, he feels too young and too good to give up on trying to qualify to play. By this time next year, however, Olazábal, 42, might have discovered that his game (not to mention Björn’s) was not going to return to its previous heights, and he may be persuaded to change his mind about leading the team at Celtic Manor in Newport, Gwent.

“We are in no rush to appoint the captain,” Björn said. “There are a lot of issues [and] we need to know where everybody stands in their playing career. It could be in January [that a decision is made], but maybe we'll decide to do it later, to make sure we make the right decision.”

Colin Montgomerie, who is lobbying for Sandy Lyle, his fellow Scot, has dismissed suggestions that he might captain the team in 2010, preferring Gleneagles, Perthshire, in 2014, and

Björn said: “We decided to let the dust settle over this [last] one. People who are ruling themselves out now might rule themselves in at some stage.”

Ian Woosnam, who led Europe to victory in 2006, has said that he would like to take on the role again. “If the players and committee wanted me to come back, it would be nice to do it in Wales,” the Welshman said.

Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell are the only players from Valhalla competing at The Belfry this week. Westwood, the champion, had a four-under-par round of 68 to lie one shot behind Marcus Fraser, of Australia, and Mikael Lundberg, of Sweden.