Paul McGinley and Lee Westwood have buried any captaincy issues with the eight-time Ryder Cup star now fully backing the Gleneagles team leader.
Westwood and McGinley have not spoken since last year’s Ryder Cup and certainly not after Westwood a fortnight later in Turkey clearly backed long-time good friend, Darren Clarke for the 2014 captaincy reins.
However Westwood then did McGinley a favour when Clarke withdrew his nomination and in doing so remained tight-lipped over Colin Montgomerie’s late decision to stand.
“I’m pleased for Paul and I think he’ll make a fine captain,” said Westwood.
“He has the experience at captaincy in the Seve Trophy along with playing in three Ryder Cups and having been a vice-captain twice in the Ryder and he’s not lost in team competition so hopefully he’ll keep that lucky streak going.
“He’s seen close hand how the captains have worked as a Ryder Cup player and also Paul’s seen how the captains work when he’s stood beside them as captains making their decisions.”
Westwood is returning to competition at this week’s Dubai Desert Classic for a first time since finishing 11thin his defence of last month’s Asian Tour Thailand Golf Championship.
Paul McGinley displays a 2014 Ryder Cup logo on his bag as he tees off the 10th at the Emirates Club in a practice round ahead of this week’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
