The appointment of Europe''s next Ryder Cup captain was not on the agenda during a meeting of European Tour officials in Scotland last week, it has emerged.
Early discussions on the identity of Nick Faldo''s successor were expected to take place at the Dunhill Links Championship, but tournament committee member Barry Lane revealed that the issue "wasn''t even brought up".
The delay means it could be several months before it is known who will lead the European team at Celtic Manor in 2010.
Committee chairman Thomas Bjorn stated: "It''s now such a big thing that we have to have the feeling of the players in general, as well as the guys on the committee.
"We may decide to do it later than January just to make sure that we make what we think is the right decision."
The tournament committee''s next meeting is set to take place in Abu Dhabi in January.
Jose Maria Olazabal, Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam are the three frontrunners for the captaincy, which has assumed additional importance in the wake of Europe''s defeat at Valhalla last month.
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