McGinley Undergoing Speech ‘Content’ Training Ahead Of Ryder Cup.

Those who know Paul McGinley would agree he is such a good talker and communicator he could easily talk ten feet under water with a mouth full of pebbles.

So it may come as a surprise the European Team captain has arranged to have private speech content training in what is one of he most feared aspects of the Ryder Cup – public speaking.

Paul McGinley reveals he has been undertaking speech 'content' training ahead of next year's Ryder Cup.  (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)

Paul McGinley reveals he has been undertaking speech ‘content’ training ahead of next year’s Ryder Cup. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

“The training I’m having it so much about my presentationg but more to do with the content of the speeches I will have to make at the Ryder Cup,” said McGinley.

“The training I’m having it so much about my presentation but more to do with the content of the speeches.

“It’s about getting everything chronologically correct in my presentations. I’ve been asked to do more and more public speaking and I feel need to get myself more to a professional level, and there is a woman in London who is helping me and I’ve had three sessions already.  

“I m not concerned about my presentation, as that’s been great.  I’ve been fortunate because for the five years I spent at college public speaking was a part of my marketing and international business courses. 

“I’m not going to be an amateur standing up there on the stage when I am trying to be a professional, so there are so many facets that’s why I have been trying to upgrade my public speaking.

“If that means getting outside help in some areas then I will do that.”

Of course, one immediately recalls Nick Faldo’s foot-in-mouth diabolical opening speech at the 2008 Ryder Cup at Valhalla.

In asking Graeme McDowell whether he was from “Ireland or Northern Ireland”, Faldo naively or stupidly, went down the untouchable political and social path for every Ulsterman. It was little wonder that McDowell, who was making his European Team debut appeared more than a little discomfited by Faldo’s apparent gaucheness.

Then there was Faldo’s stereotypical contention that Padraig Harrington has “hit more balls than potatoes have been planted in Ireland.”

He then introduced Dane Søren Hansen as ‘Soren Stenson’ and while the Faldo ‘foot-in-mouth syndrome’ continued uncheched for the duration of the matches, he was still the failed comedian to the end saying:  “See you in Wales. Don’t forget to bring your wellies and waterproofs.”

Scotland’s Sam Torrance had revealed soon after being presented with the 2001 Ryder Cup captaincy that later became the 2002 Ryder Cup that he feared the Belfry speeches more than the combined strength of the USA side.

Torrance took training and then spent hours in his garage working on the various speeches he had to deliver.

McGinley will get more public speaking experience this week as he’s spending five days in New York and Boston as guest of both the Irish/American Society and corporate giant Ernst and Young.

“I’ve got a lot of public speaking coming up speaking to the the Irish/American Society and on Wall Street with with Ernst and Young as they are a top tier sponsor of the Ryder Cup,” he said.

“I’m taking the Ryder Cup trophy with me.  There will be no business on any golf course so I’ll be leaving my clubs at home.”



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