European captain Paul McGinley could not have wished for a better Christmas gift than for three of last year’s victorious Ryder Cup team members ending 2013 celebrating a first victory of the year.
First there was England’s Luke Donald successfully defending his Dunlop Phoenix Open title and ending exactly a year-long victory drought since initially winning the Japan Tour event.
Luke Donald delivers Paul McGinley a first treat in retaining his Dunlop Phoenix Open title in Japan.
A week later fellow former World No. 1 Rory McIlroy silenced his critics in defeating overwhelming hometown favourite, Adam Scott to capture the coveted Australian Open title in Sydney.
McIlroy had beaten Tiger Woods weeks earlier in their Match at Mission Hills but his victory close to the Sydney Harbour shoreline was the double Major winner’s first taste of full tournament success since his Race to Dubai triumph some 13 months earlier.
Spain’s Sergio Garcia then delivered McGinley a third Christmas delight and also an early 2014 New Year boost in ending a 16-month lean streak to storm to success in last week’s Thailand Golf Championship.
Garcia had not lifted a winning trophy since capturing the 2012 Wyndham Championship and a week following McIlroy’s PGA Championship triumph.
While Garcia dedicated his 26th pro career win to his mother who had been released from hospital following minor surgery his win in steamy Thailand also helped ease the pain in a year when he found himself embroiled in controversy with Tiger Woods.
Spain’s Sergio Garcia makes in three wins for 2012 Ryder Cup stars in capturing Thailand Golf Championship.
Donald, McIlroy and Garcia were also the first three ‘Miracle at Medinah’ team members to win anywhere since the 2014 Ryder Cup qualifying process commenced last August at the Wales Open.
The trio joined Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, who was earlier this week named ‘European Tour Golfer of the Year’, as the players McGinley is looking as the backbone of his Gleneagles team.
“It was pleasing to see all three players win and great seeing Rory win the Australian Open in Sydney,” said McGinley.
“He’s come through a tough season playing fantastically well and been rewarded with success.
“That’s one of reasons why Rory is so exciting is the fact he is up and down. That’s one of the reasons also why Seve was so exciting, he was up and down, too.
“If you look at things historically and not just European players, when someone breaks through and win often their peers step up to the plate after that.”
On top of the foursome, McGinley had good cause to be delighted also in the winning ways of his co-Medinah winning vice-captains.
Dane Thomas Bjorn’s won the Nedbank Challenge and Miguel Angel Jimenez capturing a fourth Hong Kong Open title just weeks before his 50th birthday on January 5.
Bjorn was a member of the winning 1997 and 2002 European Teams, and has now won four times since turning 40 nearly three years ago.
“Thomas is a wonderful player and the thing is that you don’t have to play consecutive Ryder Cups as you can miss one or two, then come back in and play a very good Ryder Cup, which a lot of people have done in the past,” said McGinley.
“So Thomas and Miguel are two and there is others too, who may have missed one or two Ryder Cups but are capable of slipping back into the team.”
The cigar-chomping Jimenez played in four Ryder Cups from 1999 to 2010 and if he qualified for a fifth next September he would comfortable beat the record of Englishman Ted Ray, who was 50 years, two months and five days old in competing in the inaugural contest in 1927.
“If I play the way I am playing in winning in Hong Kong I will be in the Ryder Cup team,” he said.
“There is now less than a year to go and my victory will help a lot. You never know but then I would love to be a part of the team again.”
