Paul McGinley has penned his signature to the 12-page Ryder Cup agreement setting out virtually everything from A to Z in the staging of the Gleneagles encounter including competition format, wildcards, team behaviour and it’s believed even down to a time limit on when a captain or team player can publish a book post the event in Scotland.

And while it has been in McGinley’s possession for some time it was not to he got the green light from leading Tour officials he signed the paper.

“I’ve had the likes of John Paramour, Andy McFee (Chief Referees) and other Tour staff going over the agreement for some time, so everything is now in place,” he said.

“The document covers everything dealing with the Ryder Cup and it’s virtually no different to other team agreements with the only difference it’s been written to suit Gleneagles.”

Paul McGinley last fortnight signed a Ryder Cup supporters board in Germany while this week he signed a 12-page Ryder Cup agreement. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

McGinley was speaking after posting a three over par 74 on the opening day of the Scottish Open.

The Dubliner bogeyed 16 and 17 but then delighted a big gathering  around the 18th when he rolled in a 25-footer for par.

“If it wasn’t from my caddy I may have finished under par as ‘Jimmy’ gave me so many wrong clubs there towards the end,” said McGinley smiling.

“I hit a perfect tee shot there at 18 and ended up under the lip of a bunker.

“Overall it was a bit frustrating with the outward nine going out very tough into the breeze because if you miss the fairway you’re going to struggle for par.

“It’s a real challenging golf course and while there is much going on in my life with regards to the Ryder Cup I still enjoyed it out there today.”

However waiting for McGinley after his round was the European Tour’s leading media officer, Scott Crockett who has become a virtual personal assistant to McGinley since his Gleneagles appointment some 18 months ago.

“The last thing I need right now is to see you standing here,” McGinley joked in looking at Crockett.

Crockett was on hand to remind McGinley he had an interview to host but then not for some two hours later following his round.

And before heading off to the nearby clubhouse McGinley commented on McIlroy’s new course record of a seven under par 64.

“What a score, and what a tremendous score,” said McGinley.

“He said he can’t handle the win and he can’t play links golf and he would never win an Open.  So there you go and that’s the answer to that (smiling).

“Out there was a tough a day as you would experience in playing a links course and he shot 64, and he’s leading by one, so that puts that argument to bed.”