Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley is hopeful he and Darren Clarke have moved on following Clarke’s reaction to USA rival Tom Watson’s captaincy pick.
Clarke responded to Watson’s appointment suggesting Europe respond by choosing someone of near similar statue to oppose the five-time British Open winner next year at Gleneagles.
The comments did McGinley’s captaincy cause little favour and with McGinley purposely not commenting on the matter nor the eleventh hour decision of close friend, Colin Montgomerie to throw his hat into the captaincy vote.
Paul McGinley on the range as his two eldest children watch on. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
McGinley finds himself grouped with Clarke for a first time this year as the pair join Watson over the opening two rounds of the 95th PGA Championship at Oak Hill.
“I knew I’d be playing with (Tom) Watson and Darren (Clarke) was drawn with us so that’s no problem so you deal with it and move on,” said McGinley.
“That’s fine and I really want to leave it all that behind me.
“Listen, it doesn’t matter. The bottom line is the guy is there. Darren could be part of the team next year and I’m certainly not going to burn any bridges or fall out with him. It’s a question of being professional about it and I will be and so will he and we’ll move on.
“There’s no point dwelling over it.”
McGinley is competing in his first Major Championship since placed T43rd in the 2009 British Open at Turnberry.
This week also is McGinley’s first US major since he finished T60th in the 2007 PGA Championship won by Tiger Woods at Southern Hills in Oklahoma.
And while McGinley has Ryder Cup matters to attend to off the golf course he also wants to be competitive on a golf course where fellow Irishman became the hero of the victorious 1995 European Ryder Cup team.
“It’s been a whirlwind that’s happened to me since I put in place for the captaincy, so with the whirlwind of that, I have got schedule a little bit wrong and there has been too many other things taking priority,” he said.
“But what I have spent the last six to eight months doing is putting a structure in place and understanding the structure first of all and now I am able to push things in different areas and delegate.
“This is what I was talking to Richard (Hills – European Ryder Cup Director) about last night as the wheels are in motion of getting things done, and they don’t happen with the click of fingers as they happen over time.
“I have pretty well much set up my stall with regards to my team within for the Ryder Cup and they’re over beavering in their own different ways.
“To be honest it is all very exciting and it’s going great. People have been very kind and nice and have made it easy for me and I’m very excited about it but then I am also very excited about golf for the next two years and I certainly will give a real importance to my schedule next year.
“I certainly will not want to be a ceremonial golfer going through the motions as I want to play and play to a good standard.”
And caddying for McGinley this week is his former University of San Diego University room-mate, John Adams who the Dubliner had met while undertaking a two-year post graduate degree.
Paul McGinley makes a point during his PGA Championship press conference. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
“I’ve know John ever since I was in college here in the US and the came over to Ireland and played in the South of Ireland and got to the quarter-final in the year I won it in 1991.
“He was also second in the Mullingar Scratch Cup and he then turned pro. He played the South American tour for a few years but now works for the company that has made all the PGA caps this week.”
“Colm Smith (ex-Irish Independent golf correspondent) described him as ‘Burly John Adams from California’ when he came over in 1990 and ever since then I have called him that.”
Also present with McGinley this week is his two oldest children, Niamh (14) and son Killian (12).
“Ally (wife) and Maia (Daughter aged 10) missed the cut,” he said smiling.
“It’s great to have two of my children here as it’s the first time ever they’ve been to a Major and tomorrow they’re on an organised trip to Niagara Falls so they’re looking forward to that.”
McGinley, Clarke and Watson will tee up at 12.35pm (5.35pm Irish time).
