Showdown: The Inside Story of the Gleneagles Ryder Cup

Product Information

Each and every European player paid tribute to their skipper for providing the opportunity to perform at their best over the three days at Gleneagles. He was the winning captain of Europe in the 2014 Ryder Cup, and Ireland's first Ryder Cup European captain. Successful leaders understand what motivates each individual on the team (eg, prestige, development opportunities, etc) and tries to match rewards to those individual motivations. But what he could do was try and out-think him. By doing his homework, by being respectful, by being unbelievably clever in the way that he went around getting all of his statistics to make sure he had the right players on the course at the right time, he did that.

But one side was far better prepared for the task and one team was melded into a single unit. That team was Europe. People play golf alone, and they play for themselves: some say it’s a selfish sport. Yet McGinley admits he wasn’t very good at playing so single-mindedly, he’s a natural team player, which is why he leads with empathy. In 2010, McGinley acted as Vice Captain to Colin Montgomerie, and again to Jose Maria Olazabal in 2012. The following year, Paul was announced as the Europe team captain for the 2014 Ryder Cup – the first Irishman to do so. His team went on to beat the USA. Before his victory in the 2005 Volvo Masters, McGinley had three runner-up finishes in tournaments that year, finishing second to Ángel Cabrera in the BMW Championship at Wentworth and losing in the final of the HSBC World Match Play Championship at the same venue to New Zealander Michael Campbell (2 & 1). In an absorbing contest, Campbell clinched the title with a half on the penultimate hole after McGinley had driven wildly into the trees on the previous two holes. McGinley later said he was "hurt like you can't imagine" after losing in the final. He said: "I fought as hard as I could and I'm bitterly disappointed." [13] Remember, rewind six years and he was a player himself: when he captained the European Team, he led players who were once his peers.

McGinley made three consecutive Ryder Cup appearances in 2002, 2004 and 2006, with Europe being victorious each time. In the 2002 Ryder Cup, his ten-foot putt on the 18th hole in his match against Jim Furyk secured the ½ point Europe needed for victory; the team eventually won 15½ to 12½. In the 2006 Ryder Cup at The K Club in Ireland, McGinley offered a handshake and conceded a 20-foot putt for a half to J. J. Henry on the 18th green of his last day singles match because he feared his opponent might have been put off when a streaker ran across the green. [16] McRae, Donald (19 September 2014). " 'Paul McGinley will leave a real positive mark on the Ryder Cup itself' ". The Guardian . Retrieved 15 April 2023.

After entering amateur championships, Paul was selected for the 1991 Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team, and turned professional in late 1991, joining a year later in 1992, aged 25. I knew what it was like to sit there, waiting to play. When I played three Ryder Cups, I was always, in terms of ability, ranked 6-12 in the team. I wasn’t number one, but I was an important team member. So I had empathy with the players sitting a session out.” Relating to the ‘stars’ was more of a challenge. “How was I going to get the most out of someone like Rory McIlroy? I learnt not to put too much pressure on him,” he says. I wasn't trying to be a macho leader. I wasn't trying to create an image. Because the players would have seen through it and I’d have lost credibility. I told them: ‘When you go off to that first tee, you’re centre stage, not me. My job’s talking to you and the vice-captains about strategy.’” His thorough, intelligent and measured approach was the difference between his team and the fractured American setup led by Tom Watson. "Don't go overboard" were the words of advice from the European captain to his team after their winPaul gained a spot in golfing folklore by holing the winning putt on his Ryder Cup Debut in 2002. He then went on to represent Europe in 2004 and 2006, making him the first European Golfer to win in every one of his three appearances. Paul showed his skills again at team golf when he led the Great Britain and Ireland team to victory in the 2009 and 2011 Vivendi Trophy with Seve Ballesteros, 2009 being in his first experience of captaincy. Faldo was asked: "Since you became captain, many of your decisions have been criticised. In the wake of this defeat, you'll receive more criticism tomorrow no doubt from the British press. I wonder, do you care, and if not, why not?" It's easy to for complacency to creep in,” he says. “So when I went to the press conference on the Saturday night, I was on the front foot, and I was positioning our team. I was serious and strong: I wanted everyone to know it was far from over.” McGinley turned professional in late 1991 and joined the European Tour in 1992, aged 25. In 1993, he lost a playoff to Costantino Rocca in the French Open. [9] In 1994, McGinley lost a playoff to José María Olazábal in the Open Mediterrania. [10] There is no limit to how many times the clubs have been used so long as they are received by us within the 60 day period subject to the following conditions: