Graeme McDowell insists Paul McGinley is a ‘natural’ to captain Ireland’s 2016 Olympic Golf team in Rio de Janeiro.
This is after McGinley was chosen by the Ireland Olympic Committee to captain the four-player Irish Team in just under two years when golf returns to the Olympics for a first time since 1904.
World No. 1 Rory McIlroy seems assured of leading the team and with McDowell, currently ranked 15th in the world, and looking to partner the current four-time Major winner as Ireland’s two male representatives.
“After the job Paul did at the Ryder Cup he’s a natural, a natural choice to be Ireland’s captain at the 2016 Olympics,” said McDowell mid-round on day one of the Franklin Templeton Shootout in Naples, Florida.
Paul McGinley, who has been chosen as Ireland’s Olympic Games Golf Captain with the two players who will make up the men’s team at the 2016 Olympics. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
“We lead some strong leadership in Rio because of the unknown quantities of the Olympics from the drug regulations through to the travel arrangements, through the golf course, through the logistics and right through to the scheduling.
“Given golf has not been a part of the Olympics since 1904 there is so many unknowns and we need someone with the organisational capabilities of a Paul McGinley.
“The job he did at the Ryder Cup left no box un-ticked, so I’m excited to see him appointed as Ireland’s Olympic Golf Captain.
“And it makes me even more excited to want to be a member of Paul’s Olympic team, and to have someone with his type of skills set is what the team needed.
“So his appointment is going to be inspirational for all the Ireland players to want to be on his team, and I am sure Paul, and just like he did with the Ryder Cup, will spend the time getting his head around what is required.
“I know too if I do make the team, and that now is a big goal of mine, Ireland will be in pretty good hands when we tee up in Rio.”
The two-year qualifying period for golf commenced on July 14th this year and will conclude on July 14th, 2016 and with the leading two world ranked players from each country earning the distinction of becoming an Olympian.
A total of 118 male and female golfers will compete in Rio and will be among some 10,000 athletes in the first-ever Olympics to be staged in South America.
MEANTIME
McDowell was singing the praise of playing partner Gary Woodland who battled a nagging back injury on day one of the three-day Franklin Templeton Shootout on the Tiburon course in suburban Naples, Florida.
Woodland, who teamed with Matt Kuchar to capture the 2011 World Cup of Golf, awoke with a back complaint and was on pain-killers and underwent on-course treatment ahead of he and McDowell combining to shoot a 13-under par tally for a three-way share of third place in the 12-team event.
“Gary hung there unbelievable today and he had his trainer with him all day today and he was in a bad way before we teed off,” said McDowell.
“So all credit to Gary as there is not many guys who would have teed up today given how poorly Gary was feeling given his game is based on physicality.”
Australia’s Jason Day and American-born Cameron Tringale played the last nine holes in 11-under par in what would have been a combined score of 55 to lead by two shots at 17-under par.
