Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley will fire the very first shot in the 2014 European Team qualifying process when he tees off first on Thursday in the Wales Open at Celtic Manor.
It is the first-ever occasion a new European Team captain will tee up first in the opening qualifying event and with McGinley hitting off at 7.25am local time in the company of England’s John Parry and Denmark’s Epsen Kofstad.
The Wales Open is the commencement in 12-month long qualifying process ending next September with nine players qualifying automatically and then McGinley having three ‘wildcard’ picks.
“There is a lot of milestones along the way on the Ryder Cup captain’s journey and the start of qualifying is certainly a big milestone,” said McGinley.
Paul McGinley excited to be hitting first tee shot of 2014 Ryder Cup qualifying. (Photo – David Lloyd/www.golffile.ie)
“So I’m absolutely thrilled and it’s nice that the captain shot in the race for the Ryder Cup.
“But I also see the beginning of the Ryder Cup qualifying process this week as a springboard, and it’s important for these guys out here this week to get off to a good start.
“The springboard of playing well in these regular Tour events is important in getting themselves into the four bigger events to end the season this year.
“Then once they get themselves into those four events they have to use that a further springboard into the Majors and WGCs next year where there are huge points on offer.
“And while I have ruled myself out of the running to battle for a place in the team, as the Captain and the leader I am extremely proud to set the example for my prospective team members.
“I know it’s going to be fierce competition for those nine spots and I’m sure there are many players here in Wales this week with their eyes focussed firmly on a place in my team.
“Ultimately, I will be looking for the twelve strongest players, playing their best golf at the time, that I can take with me later next year to Gleneagles.”
But while much of the focus in this week’s £STG 1.8m event will be on the Ryder Cup defending Wales Open champion, Thongchai Jaidee has a completely different agenda.
The Thailand golfer can still wrap-up a place in the October 3rd starting Presidents Cup International Team set to tackle the Americans at Muirfield Village in Ohio.
Jaidee had been until the recent PGA Championship the Bangkok golfer was inside the top-10 automatic qualifiers in Nick Price’s International Team but has now slipped to 12th.
“I know I have just this week to try and qualify myself for the team as it’s been a big goal of mine all season,” he said.
“I had a good top-20 finish last week in Scotland but if I can play this week here in Wales like I did last year then I might just qualify for the team.
“If not, I know I am going to have to rely on Nick (Price) picking me for the team.”
If successful, Jaidee would become the first-ever Thailand golfer to compete in the Presidents Cup.
