McGINLEY HAS THE CAPTAINCY CREDENTIALS NEEDED FOR 2014 MATCH
FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By JAMES CORRIGAN
So player power won the day and, for once, that does not seem a statement full of foreboding. The vote for Paul McGinley as Ryder Cup captain was not just one for Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter, Luke Donald and Justin Rose, but one for sense.
By JAMES CORRIGAN
So player power won the day and, for once, that does not seem a statement full of foreboding. The vote for Paul McGinley as Ryder Cup captain was not just one for Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter, Luke Donald and Justin Rose, but one for sense.
In any other prime time sport and in most other any prime time jobs, McGinley
would have been a shoo-in for the role at Gleneagles in next year. That it
was not – and that he was forced to face such a tense wait as the Tournament
Players Committee decided – says much about the confusion which accompanies
this position.
Is it a reward for a great career as a European professional golfer or is it a
reward for showing great captaincy credentials? The supporters of Colin
Montgomerie – whose identities were not immediately obvious – were saying it
should be both.
But for the players who have experienced McGinley’s leadership in the team-room, the latter is quite enough.
But for the players who have experienced McGinley’s leadership in the team-room, the latter is quite enough.
McGinley, 46, has been nothing more than a good professional in his 21-year
career. The diminutive Dubliner, who could have made it in Gaelic football
had it not been for a broken kneecap, has won only four times on the
European Tour. The height of his individual game came at the 2005 Volvo
Masters when held off the best Europe had to offer. Otherwise, he has been
consistent without troubling the historians.
Except in the Ryder
Cup, that is. When McGinley secured a half point against Jim Furyk
in his singles at the Belfry in 2002 he entered folklore as the man who
holed the winning putt in the Ryder Cup. His immortal link with team golf
was assured right there with that 10-foot putt and with the dunking in the
lake he received thereafter.
Yet McGinley, the team man, does not start or end there. Five years previously
he and his great friend Padraig Harrington had lifted the World Cup for
Ireland. The old tournament had never before witnessed such an outbreak of
national joy before or since and in those moments, as he and Harrington were
hailed, McGinley experienced the golfing highs which always eluded him on
his own. He learnt that glory shared can be glory multiplied.
After the Belfry, McGinley tasted the sweet taste of collective euphoria once
again in Europe’s Ryder Cup 18½-9½ catwalks of 2004 and 2006. Together with
his Walker Cup win as a 25 year-old – when he beat a certain Phil Mickelson
– it meant that McGinley had a 100 per cent record in the team environment.
He continued this run when moving into management.
McGinley wisely skipped Nick Faldo’s error-strewn campaign in 2008 after initially agreeing to become the Englishman’s assistant. After the defeat, Europe’s only one so far this century, McGinley accused Faldo of using his Ryder Cup captaincy as “some kind of testimonial”.
Having been impressed by Sam Torrance’s leadership in 2002, McGinley has always believed the role is so much more than that of ceremony. He has sought to prove so and not just when assisting Montgomerie at Celtic Manor and then José María Olazábal at Medinah last September.
It was in the Seve Trophy where he truly excelled. In 2009 he led Great Britain and Ireland to success against the Continentals and such was his attention to detail that McIlroy believes McGinley “to be the best captain I’ve ever played under”. That is some statement seeing as the Seve Trophy is generally regarded as a beer match between the boys.
Yet when Seve Ballesteros founded the match he intended it to be a stepping-stone. McGinley has used it as a dress rehearsal, again impressing all when leading GB and Ireland to a second successive win two years ago. He learnt on the job when putting everything into the job and has been desperate to put his theories to practice in golf’s most high-pressured arena. There is no justification in any belief that McGinley was seduced primarily by the endorsement money on offer to the captain, or indeed the fame.
Saying all this, McGinley is not universally popular on tour. Some feel he acts above his playing station, while others mutter about a “politician”.
Well, whatever the moans there can be no doubt that he played the race for Ryder Cup captaincy nigh on perfectly. He purposefully kept his profile low and allowed the likes of McIlroy and Poulter to aim their compliments high.
And now the countdown will begin for then 5ft 7incher with the big master plan as he prepares to face up to Tom Watson, a legend who has more Open titles than McGinley has regular titles. If the match is to be judged on the playing credentials of the captains then Europe do not have a prayer. But it is not. As always, it will be judged on the playing credentials of the players. And in McGinley, Europe may just have the perfect figure to inspire McIlroy and co to produce their best. After backing him so vehemently they will probably have to now.
McGinley wisely skipped Nick Faldo’s error-strewn campaign in 2008 after initially agreeing to become the Englishman’s assistant. After the defeat, Europe’s only one so far this century, McGinley accused Faldo of using his Ryder Cup captaincy as “some kind of testimonial”.
Having been impressed by Sam Torrance’s leadership in 2002, McGinley has always believed the role is so much more than that of ceremony. He has sought to prove so and not just when assisting Montgomerie at Celtic Manor and then José María Olazábal at Medinah last September.
It was in the Seve Trophy where he truly excelled. In 2009 he led Great Britain and Ireland to success against the Continentals and such was his attention to detail that McIlroy believes McGinley “to be the best captain I’ve ever played under”. That is some statement seeing as the Seve Trophy is generally regarded as a beer match between the boys.
Yet when Seve Ballesteros founded the match he intended it to be a stepping-stone. McGinley has used it as a dress rehearsal, again impressing all when leading GB and Ireland to a second successive win two years ago. He learnt on the job when putting everything into the job and has been desperate to put his theories to practice in golf’s most high-pressured arena. There is no justification in any belief that McGinley was seduced primarily by the endorsement money on offer to the captain, or indeed the fame.
Saying all this, McGinley is not universally popular on tour. Some feel he acts above his playing station, while others mutter about a “politician”.
Well, whatever the moans there can be no doubt that he played the race for Ryder Cup captaincy nigh on perfectly. He purposefully kept his profile low and allowed the likes of McIlroy and Poulter to aim their compliments high.
And now the countdown will begin for then 5ft 7incher with the big master plan as he prepares to face up to Tom Watson, a legend who has more Open titles than McGinley has regular titles. If the match is to be judged on the playing credentials of the captains then Europe do not have a prayer. But it is not. As always, it will be judged on the playing credentials of the players. And in McGinley, Europe may just have the perfect figure to inspire McIlroy and co to produce their best. After backing him so vehemently they will probably have to now.
Labels: RYDER CUP