Irish Olympic Captain Paul McGinley is clearly on a high ahead of the Olympic Women’s Golf competition commencing tomorrow (WED) in Rio de Janeiro.

Stephanie Meadows and amateur Leona Maguire will strive to do what Padraig Harrington and Seamus Powers could not and that is to deliver Ireland a golfing gold medal.

And after the most thrilling outcome all season in the men’s competition, McGinley was aglow the ancient club-and-ball game has been such a smash hit in the modern Olympics.

“The final round of the men’s competition on Sunday was a great day for golf and the happiest I’ve seen golf,” said McGinley.

Paul McGinley walking last week with Padraig Harrington and Harrington’s caddy, Rohan Flood.

“That summed up the men’s competition as there was a lot of talk about golf’s reintroduction into the Olympics, and men’s golf being seen a negative and kind of bottomed out.

“But when we got to Rio the game went upwards on a steep curve and culminated in an incredible finish on Sunday with the gold and silver medals shared by the best two players in the field.

“You also look at this Olympics and the main stadium seats about 60 to 70,000 people but outside of that, and there are 27 sports being played, and golf is number two in terms of numbers here in Rio out watching.”

McGinley spent Monday walking the Rio course with Meadows and Maguire, who has her professional twin sister Lisa, on the bag, and McGinley predicting Leona will soon be turning to the pro ranks.

“Leona has a great chance of surprising her rivals this week,” said McGinley.

“I know she’s talking about turning professional pretty soon and that’s going to be great for Irish professional women’s golf, and after all the great good the male Irish golfers have achieved to have someone of Leona’s stature in the pro ranks.”