Dubai: Europe’s 2016 Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke is hoping to ‘pick the brains’ of the world’s best sportsmen this week ahead of next year’s clash against the USA at Hazeltine.

The 46-year-old 2011 Open Championship winner from Northern Ireland is captaining the Rest of the World versus the USA at this week’s Ryder Cup-styled Icons Cup all-star charity golf tournament at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club.

And although he admits the event is at the opposite end of the spectrum to the Ryder Cup in terms of competitiveness, he still hasn’t ruled out learning a thing or two from the experience of his teammates, who are all legends in their respective sports.

Clarke’s Rest of the World team boasts the likes of cricketers Shane Warne, Kapil Dev and Brian Lara; football’s Luis Figo, Robbie Fowler, Kenny Dalglish, Andriy Shevchenko and Dwight Yorke and rugby’s George Gregan, Brian O’Driscoll and Mike Tindall.

Team USA, captained by 1992 Masters champion Fred Couples, consists of baseball’s Tom Glavine, Ken Griffey Junior, Russ Ortiz and Greg Maddux; American football’s Marcus Allen and Eric Dickerson; ice hockey’s Mike Modano and Brett Hull; basketball’s Ray Allen and boxing’s Oscar De La Hoya.

“It’s a totally different thing,” said Clarke of the two competitions. “These are legends in their sport, not golfers, but I will be able to learn a few things from my teammates this week, not Team USA because they wouldn’t help me anyway, because it’s them I’m trying to beat next year.

“But there are some guys on my team like [former Australian bowler Shane Warne] Warney — and with all the guys on my team, I’m sure I’ll be able to pick their brains a bit on situations they’ve been in throughout their careers. And if there is anything I can glean from that, and if that could help me in any small way then I’d be foolish not to take that opportunity.

“It [the Ryder Cup] is something I’m very excited about and I’m looking forward to an awful lot. A lot goes on behind the scenes and Ryder Cup week will be very special. The American team are getting stronger and stronger with the likes of [2015 Masters champion] Jordan Spieth and other young guys that are coming through who are going to be hungry to win. It’s a long way off yet, but I will do my upmost to keep that trophy in Europe and if I can pick off little bits and pieces from all these guys here then that will help me in the competition,” he added.