Ryder Cup: Europe captain Paul McGinley ready to ruffle feathers
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Paul McGinley has revealed two key elements of his Ryder Cup captaincy strategy that could create doubt about some of Europe's biggest golfing names winning a place to play in his team at Gleneagles next year.
The two Cup qualifying tables are launched today with five automatic places going to the players who accumulate the most world ranking points over the next year and four more to the golfers winning most money in European Tour events.
But McGinley also has up his sleeve three captain's wild-card picks and he has made it brutally clear that reputations will count for nothing and playing form will be the only factor when he starts pencilling in names for that list.
Ironically, in the week when the Irish wonderboy Rory McIlroy has dropped to No 4 in the world and is playing this week in the US tour's FedEx Cup play-offs. He could be a candidate to suffer under McGinley's policy.
But the Dubliner, as he prepared to hit the first shot this morning in the Wales Open, which launches the European money Ryder Cup qualifying table, was adamant that he is going to be a strong-willed team leader.
"I understand that, along the journey that all captains take, some tough decisions have to be made," he said. "I've seen Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal, for example, making tough decisions, having to do that. I've learnt from how they made the decisions, how they approach them, and I intend to do the same. And I'll meet any challenges I have head on."
And as if to emphasise his point he went to great lengths to say how he would pick rookies without Ryder Cup experience ahead of Europe's top players if they are in peak form in 12 months' time. He said: "I'm not afraid of having rookies on the team, and if those guys step up to the plate and play really well, I'll be delighted to welcome them to the team.
"Ultimately, I'm looking for the guys who have shown the best form over that 12-month period."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments