Hot favourite Paul McGinley declared he will not be pigeon holed into declaring he wants the 2014 European Team captaincy.
McGinley had spent the past few months playing down suggestions of being chosen as a Medinah vice-captain, and the Dubliner is staring at a same scenario over the next four months before a replacement of Jose Maria Olazabal is named.
McGinley is returning to competition at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship where he recorded an opening round 75 at Carnoustie.
Paul McGinley will not allow himself to go public over the Gleneagles Ryder Cup captaincy in 2014. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)
But while keen to head to the practice range to work on his game, McGinley again found himself under fire from the media.
“Well, we are going to just have to wait and see, and as my caddy,‘Edinburgh’ Jimmy (Jim Rae) says in his Scottish tones ‘what’s meant for you, won’t pass you by’,” said McGinley.
McGinley was asked if he would accept the captaincy if offered to him next January following a Players Committee meeting in Abu Dhabi.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it and I don’t want to go down that road, and I don’t want to commit myself to anything nor say anything to put myself out there,” he said.
“I accept I’ve got nothing else to do with regards to the Ryder Cup as I have played my part as a vice-captain along with the other three guys, so I will just wait and see what happens.”
But when it was suggested McGinley has ticked every conceivable box in taking over the reins from Jose Maria Olazabal he responded: “No, you’re not going to pigeon hole me, and you’re not going to lead me into saying anything.”
However McGinley was asked to refresh those present with a background he’s enjoyed, not just in golf, but in other sports where he has acted as a team leader.
“Yes, I was captain in Gaelic football, hurling and soccer and for background purposes, I have a history of captaining sides,” he said.
“But let’s just wait and see and you’re asking me questions that you know that I know the answer to. So it’s not right for me to go out and politically work for a decision.
“I’ve done my bit. I will step away for the next few months and if I am not selected I will move on with my golf and my career, and the all the stuff that is going on with me on and off the course.
“So you guys can write what you like as I am not going to commit to anything, no matter how many questions you fire at me.”
However while McGinley plays the Ryder Cup diplomat, two of the victorious Medinah winning team in Peter Hanson and Martin Kaymer have thrown their weight behind the pint-sized Dubliner.
“Of the four vice-captains we had there last week, I lean toward Paul as the next captain as he really does a fantastic job,” said Hanson after carding a 72 also at Carnoustie.
“He just knows so much about the Ryder Cup and I’ve seen the way he was in Wales and now in Medinah.
“Paul’s also not as emotional as Ollie and he’s more even-keeled, and says the right things at the right time.
“He’s got this book on the Ryder Cup he keeps with him and if you asked him who played the fourth match on the first day in ’99, Paul’s got the answer at his fingertips.
”He is just good also at reading how well players are playing, so he would make a great captain.”
And Kaymer, who carded a 70, said: “I can’t give you one name as that would be unfair because all four vice-captains last week did their own job and in their own way, but Paul did a fantastic job.”
South African Branden Grace became the 15th European Tour player to shoot a round of 60 with his 12-under par effort at Kingsbarns.
And Frenchman Victor Dubuisson removed Rory McIlroy’s name for the Old Course record books in a shooting a new Old Course low of 62.
Shane Lowry and Damien McGrane with 69s at Kingsbarns head the Irish contingent while Padraig Harrington posted a 71 at Carnoustie.
