Paul McGinley believes the Ryder Cup balance of power has swung Europe’s way following back-to-back wins States side by Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia.
The USA team boasted two of three Major wins this season prior to McIlroy’s PGA Championship Ocean Course winning cruise at Kiawah Island.
Garcia then delivered the ‘Stars and Stripes’ another timely jolt in ending a four-year PGA Tour winless drought to capture last Monday’s finish to the rain-affected Wyndham Championship at North Carolina.
Paul Mc Ginley says McIlroy and Garcia wins has shifted Ryder Cup balance of power in Europe's favour. (Photo - Stuart Adams/www.golftourimages.com)
“Psychologically, it was big for our team and also a bit of a blow for the Americans in seeing us returning to form,” said McGinley.
“Also seeing Rory cement his place at No. 1 in the world, and then Sergio winning last week was phenomenal.
“We lost a bit of momentum to the Americans over the summer but if you look at the top 24 players in the world, it ebbs and flows. It’s shifting sands the whole time.”
McGinley was commenting ahead of this week’s Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles and the final qualifying event for the European Team.
Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts, who was seventh to Garcia in North Carolina, is the only player who can now affect the make-up of Jose Maria Olazabal’s team.
However the big-hitting 29-year old needs to either finish first or second on the 2014 Ryder Cup Centenary course venue to move from his currently 12th position on the points table and into the top-10.
If so, most bets are on Martin Kaymer and Ian Poulter being Olazabal’s two ‘wildcard’ picks.
But if Colsaerts fall short of that goal he, and a very many others, believe he’s deserving of a pick.
“I’ve showed basically everything I could have done to get the pick,” said Colsaerts.
“Fortunately, I still have a way to get myself in, but I’d like to think that I’m a pretty good position to get a pick.”
And McGinley revealed how he was sitting with his family at the London Olympic Stadium taking in the Closing Ceremony when Olazabal phoned to offer the Dubliner one of the four Medinah vice-captain roles.
“I couldn’t believe it when Ollie called because here I was sitting watching the Closing Ceremony but also thought to myself how timely was his call,” said McGinley.
“I spent a fortune on the Olympic tickets for all the family but the Ryder Cup has to be right up there with the Olympics.
“I was a bit sceptical about the Olympics but having been present in London it just blew me away.
“So while the Ryder Cup is going to be a really, really tight I think we are going to be in for a great week if we can somehow get close to matching the Olympics it will be great.”
McGinley along with fellow vice-captain, Darren Clarke are among seven Irish competing this week at Gleneagles.
