European tour greats Ian Woosnam and Nick Faldo have only one more day to wait before discovering which of them is to be the next Ryder Cup captain.

Although Sandy Lyle has also declared an interest the vote taken in Dubai by the players' committee is firmly expected to come down to the two former partners with 19 caps between them.

Faldo wins in that department by 11 to eight - he is also the record points-scorer - but Woosnam has been cast as favourite to move into the seat vacated by Bernhard Langer following the record-breaking win in Detroit last September.

Woosnam served as Sam Torrance's assistant for the 2002 victory at The Belfry and wanted to be captain last year.

Faldo is standing for the first time and his last involvement in the match was to have a good luck letter to the 1999 team thrown in a dustbin by then captain Mark James.

The result of the vote - unless it leaks out first - will be announced tomorrow, coincidentally Woosnam's 47th birthday.

The match in question will be the first-ever staged in Ireland, at the K Club near Dublin in September next year.

Four of the 2004 side are on the committee making the decision - Colin Montgomerie, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Miguel Angel Jimenez. So is Langer and his two assistants at Oakland Hills, Thomas Bjorn and Joakim Haeggman.

Andrew Coltart and vice-chairman Jean Van de Velde played in America in 1999 and the other members are all former tour winners - chairman Jamie Spence, Roger Chapman, Henrik Stenson, Mark Roe and Robert Lee, now best known as a television commentator.

Not all of them will be at the meeting, but their opinions have all been sought.

What looks certain to be agreed is that both men are superbly-well qualified for the position - and it may well be that whoever misses out this time could be appointed for 2008 in America.

The one slight complication is that by then both will have turned 50 - Faldo in July 2007, Woosnam the following March - and the money-spinning US Champions Tour is available to them.

A personality issue was behind James' reaction to Faldo's letter six years ago and in his subsequent autobiography James questioned the six-time major winner's credentials to be Ryder Cup captain.

Faldo's popularity on tour might never be at the same level as Woosnam's, but is certainly better now than it was when he was striving to be the best in the world - and succeeding at that just as the Welshman did.

Whether one is more suited to being captain in America - Faldo has become a TV analyst there - could be central to the discussion and that adds weight to the view that it will be Woosnam in charge first.

HEAD TO HEAD

NICK FALDO: Most caps, most points, most wins, more majors than any other European in history. Nobody can knock the credentials. Had a run-in with 1999 captain Mark James, though, and while James is no longer chairman or even a member of the committee making the decision it could be that Woosnam's more sociable nature helps him win the vote.

IAN WOOSNAM: Served as Sam Torrance's right-hand man for the 2002 win at The Belfry and, having failed to win the race for 2004, is the favourite now ahead of Faldo, his former partner. Ryder Cup will be in Wales for the first time in five years, but he would be 52 then and if he does miss out now he will surely be given 2008.