Abu Dhabi: Muse on Europe’s myriad Ryder Cup successes – they have won eight of the past 10 of the biennial encounters against the United States – and chances are the memory of Paul McGinley’s face wreathed in smiles will figure prominently in your thoughts.
For McGinley has known only jubilation in his tussles with the Americans, enjoying victory three times as a player in 2002, 2004, 2006 and twice as a vice-captain in 2010 and 2012.
The crowning glory on his continental endeavours came in 2014 at Gleneagles, when he was captain of a 16.5-11.5 success, Europe’s third win in a row in the competition.
McGinley opted not to offer his services as skipper again this year, allowing Darren Clarke the chance to attempt to inspire a record fourth consecutive victory for Europe at Hazeltine in the autumn.
But the 49-year-old Irishman remains a passionate European fan and was delighted to give his views on this year’s extravaganza in an exclusive interview with Gulf News at last Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Invitational pro-am at Yas Links.
Excerpts:
How do you assess Europe’s chances in this year’s Ryder Cup?
I think we’re going to have a very good team. The young guys coming through are very strong and we’ve got a lot of experience in the usual suspects of Henrik [Stenson], Justin [Rose], Sergio [Garcia] and Rory [McIlroy]. I am confident we can win, but Ryder Cups as not easily won.
With the Americans having 10 players inside the world’s top 20 as opposed to Europe’s four, is this likely to be the toughest Ryder Cup in recent memory for the Europeans?
We’re going to be just as strong. Both teams are going to be evenly matched, like they always are, and it will come down to a point or two like it always does. That’s what makes the Ryder Cup what it is.
Ian Poulter, a talismanic figure for Europe in recent Ryder Cups, is currently ranked outside automatic selection for the team. Should he be one of Clarke’s three captain’s picks if he misses out?
It’s too early to say. A lot will depend on his form. If he shows a lot of form during the summer and just misses out on the team, obviously you’d be looking in that direction.
Which young, up-and-coming Europe players have impressed you lately?
Andy Sullivan won three times last year on the European Tour and that’s very impressive. I’ll be looking to see how he kicks on this year. But it’s one thing having a good season, it’s another thing having a good season in a Ryder Cup year when you’ve got guys desperate to make the team. You have to make the guts of 3 million euros (Dh12.3 million) if you want to make the team. That’s the standard. You could pick 10 rookies who all have the potential to make the team.
Lee Westwood told me the young English prospect, Matthew Fitzpatrick, possesses no apparent weaknesses. How do you rate him?
He’s one of 10 guys all strong enough and good enough to play Ryder Cup. It’s all going to boil down to how they play in the big events this year, the major events and the world events, where the prize money is huge and the points available are huge.
What’s the greatest piece of advice you’d give to Darren Clarke?
Just trust your instincts. He’s done two vice-captaincies. He kind of knows what it’s about off the course. Every captain is different and captains in different ways.
Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter told me his thoroughness and use of statistics had impressed them, so do you think this could prove vital?
Stats are an important part of it. Stats are widely available now, everybody on both teams will be using the stats. The trick is the interpretation of the stats and applying them to pairings and certain partnerships.
What was the secret to your success as a captain?
Oh, I don’t know. That’s for other people to say.
What’s your one outstanding memory of the victory at Gleneagles?
I don’t think there’s one that stands out. I think it’s the whole week condensed as one, solid memory of a week that kind of unfolded as exactly as we had planned. I was very fortunate. I had a great team. As much as I was putting a plan in place, it’s the players who executed it. I had 12 players who really bought into our ideas and performed very well.
Why did you decide not to throw your hat into the ring to be captain again?
I feel that it’s a big honour to be a captain of the European Ryder Cup team. There are a lot of guys waiting down the road to hopefully be captains and I thought for me to go for a second occasion would have been a bit selfish, having already done it once. I think it’s important to be shared around, as you do your time and you walk away and it’s someone else’s turn.
Will you offer any advice or help to the team this year?
It’s not my call. I’ll be working for Sky Sports that week. I’ve gone on record saying I don’t want be a vice-captain again. I’ve done my piece, I’ve been involved in six Ryder Cups and been very fortunate to win all six. I want to kind of move away from the Ryder Cup and wish all the successive captains coming up over the next number of years the very best of luck.
What will making its debut at this summer’s Olympic Games mean for golf?
I think it’s an opportunity to showcase our game at the biggest table in sport. We need to embrace it and I think like all things, it will evolve. It’s important that golf’s participation will be done correctly, which hopefully will happen and turn into a good event as some of the top players will be there contending.
Do you think it can succeed in attracting young people to the sport?
That’s the chance we have as a sport, attracting people who wouldn’t necessarily watch it. I watch four or five sports I wouldn’t watch from one Olympics to another. Hopefully some people who wouldn’t normally be interested, will hopefully be encouraged by it and potentially pick the game up.
