PAUL LAWRIE today re-affirmed his desire to play in the 2014 Ryder Cup on home soil and revealed he knocked back the chance to be considered for the captain's role at Gleneagles.

The Aberdeen ace was a hero of Europe's Miracle of Medinah last year and his return to the Ryder Cup fray – after a gap of 13 years – has whetted his appetite for more, writes Nick Rodger.

Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke remain the front-runners for the skipper's armband and Lawrie, who is 29th on the world rankings, is hoping to be there as a player.

He said: "I was asked by Jamie Spence (who sits on the European Tour's board) at the Race to Dubai final if I wanted to be considered and I said 'no'.

"Everybody knows I want to play again and I've set my stall out on that. If I had the chance of the captaincy and I don't get there as a player then, yes, I'll be disappointed. But it's worth trying to play again surely."

Lawrie enjoyed a sparkling 2012 and illuminated his year with two Tour titles before playing a key role in Europe's rousing singles charge on the final day of the Ryder Cup when he dumped Brandt Snedeker 5 and 3.

He tees off 2013 in this week's Volvo Golf event in South Africa.

SPEEDWAY: Glasgow Tigers have completed their starting line-up for the new season with the signing of 22-year-old Aussie Joey Ringwood.

Having retained skipper Joe Screen, James Grieves and Henning Bager, Tigers have added further experience in the form of former Premier League Riders champion James Wright and introduced young talent in the form of Joe Jacobs, Harley Horwood and now Ringwood.

TENNIS: Andy Murray has been confirmed as the third seed for next week's Australian Open. The British No.1, who won his maiden Grand Slam at last year's US Open and retained his Brisbane Open title on Sunday, is looking to win at Melbourne Park for the first time after finishing runner-up in 2010 and 2011.