Paul McGinley has proudly singled out an early career of Gaelic football as pivotal in his selection as the first-ever Irish-born European Ryder Cup captain.

McGinley won a unanimous committee vote last night in Abu Dhabi despite the rather selfish late nomination of former captain, Colin Montgomerie .

The 46-year old Dubliner will lead Europe in two years time at Gleneagles hardly having known defeat in team golf in his 22-years in the professional ranks.

Paul McGinley singles out his background playing Gaelic football as pivotal in winning the 2014 Ryder Cup captaincy. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

McGinley will lead Europe into battle against Tom Watson’s Star Spangled side in the Scottish Highlands with the team experience of being on three winning Ryder Cup sides (2002-2006), four Vivendi Seve Trophy winning teams including two as the winning captain (1999-2011) and twice a member of a winning European Royal Trophy team (2006 & 07).

But it is his background in Gaelic football and competing for Ballyboden St Enda’s before injuring his knee and then turning to golf.

“Gaelic football is where I started so if you look at my career, it’s quite modest compared to the ex‑captains that we’ve had in Ryder Cups,” he said.

“That’s why it’s very humbling for me that I am in this position. I don’t match the record that they have in terms of what they have achieved in major championships and whatnot.

“But what I did do in my career was I always performed extremely highly when I did play as part of a team. I wish I could have done the same as an individual.

“So I certainly went to another level when I played in team golf and some psychologists might explain, it goes back to my Gaelic football days, being part of the team, being in the dressing room, very much being put in my own corner and everyone put in their own corner.”

“My heart ticks a bit faster and my adrenaline goes more and I just love the environment of being in a team. Ryder Cup situations, I love the team meetings, I love everything that goes with it, the pageantry, everything that goes with it.

“ Maybe it’s that X‑factor but I seem to go to another level when I do play when I’m involved in team golf.”

And World No. 1 Rory McIlroy can take a bow with the not normally outspoken double Major winner leading a chorus of support of current Ryder Cup players crying out for McGinley.

“I’d like to think it means something when you’ve got players like myself, Ian Poulter, Luke Donald and Justin Rose all voicing their opinion that they want Paul to captain the team,” said McIlroy.

“I would like to think that our opinions are valuable, and that the decision would be based on that, at elast to some extent.”