McGinley an "uninspired" choice to captain Europe

Moments ago Paul McGinley was named captain of the 2014 European Ryder Cup team at Gleneagles. The 46-year-old played in three Ryder Cups, was vice-captain in 2010 and 2012 and holed the winning putt in 2002.

McGinley was preferred to Ryder Cup legend Colin Montgomerie, who captained a victorious European team in 2010 and wanted to fulfil the role again.


While Rory McIlroy and Ryder Cup stalwarts Luke Donald and Justin Rose all publicly backed McGinley for the captaincy of the biennial event against the United States, I can't help but feel this is an uninspired choice, more giving a popular guy who has paid his dues a shot, rather than picking a charasmatic leader.

McIlroy predictably welcomed the appointment, writing on Twitter: "Common sense prevailed in the end.... Couldn't be happier for him... Roll on Gleneagles."

Better choices in my book would have been Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke, the 2011 Open champion, who was originally the favourite but asked for his name to be withdrawn.

Then I would have gone back to Monty, it is in Scotland remember, or Miguel Angel Jimenez, or Bernhard Langer. How about Peter Aliss for an inspired if not somewhat off the board choice, or what the hell go for it all and bring in Sean Connery in his kilt, and let the team pick
themselves !! He would more than offset the inspired Tom Watson pick by the Yanks..

In recent times Europe have taken the view that the Ryder Cup captain should serve for one match only, with Bernard Gallacher ('91, '93 and '95) the last man to lead the side more than once.

McGinley certainly deserves the shot, and the players are right behind him, he just doesn't inspire me, as Monty, and Seve, and Tony and Jose, and Woosy, and Bernhard and Hugget and even Sir Nick did before him..

Oh well, Europe plays so well in this event it really probably doesn't matter who they pick !!


BryanA