Garcia then added to applause from his team-mates: "Yeah, it's true," before providing more words of support for the under-fire captain. He was the winning captain of Europe in the 2014 Ryder Cup, and Ireland's first Ryder Cup European captain. Born in Dublin, Paul originally played Gaelic football until he broke his kneecap at the age of 18, ending his footballing career but turning his focus to golf. Foley, Alan (23 January 2013). "McGuiness (sic) only too willing to help out McGinley". Donegal Democrat . Retrieved 23 January 2013.

The master-plan for Paul was to make sure we would be holding the trophy at the end of the week. It wasn't about egos, playing certain players five times. This was about getting hold of that trophy." Justin Rose quipped: "Thanks." Faldo looked at his team and then said: "Do I care?" Lee Westwood was first to step in: "No is the word you're looking for, I think." There's lots to digest about what Paul did very, very well," Ian Poulter told BBC Sport. "Tom Watson is way more accomplished as a player than what Paul McGinley is, so he couldn't go up against his record.

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 win

Leadership is everything in the Ryder Cup. Yes, it comes down to the players to sink the putts, but for that to happen effectively their mood, motivation and readiness has to be at the highest level.

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In the 2010 and 2012 matches, McGinley served as one of the European vice-captains to Colin Montgomerie and José María Olazábal respectively. On 15 January 2013, he was named the Europe team captain for the 2014 Ryder Cup. [17] [18] [19] 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?" Why would the players need me to validate their playing? They had 60,000 cheering fans for that,” he says. 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. At the 2014 Ryder Cup in Scotland, McGinley’s European team defeated the American team captained by Tom Watson with a winning margin of 16½ to 11½. [21] Personal life [ edit ]

But one side was far better prepared for the task and one team was melded into a single unit. That team was Europe. 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] 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] Azinger was the last American to approach the captaincy in a radical fashion. A similar mindset is needed now. In 2014, Europe defeated the USA team by 16½ points to 11½, for their third consecutive win. On the second day (Saturday) of the three-day tournament, McGinley’s team had a four-point lead. They needed to stay ahead.

Watson, by contrast, was made to look an out-dated figure. He erroneously contended the only difference to the last time he did the job in 1993 was the increased demands of the media. Realising that leadership is about the leader is an important place to start. The idea that people are just born leaders isn’t true. It’s important that people examine, sometimes brutally, as McGinley has, their strengths and weaknesses. Being self-aware is the first step to the most important trait of all: inspiring people to believe in you. Spiers, Graham (26 September 2014). "Who will be captain marvel when two tribes go to war?". The Times . Retrieved 15 April 2023. These are multi-millionaire individual sportsmen for whom there is always next week to provide opportunities of glory and remuneration.