Paul McGinley will commence a new season in this week’s Maybank Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur and declaring ahead of the co-sanctioned event that played backing will decide his replacement as 2016 European Ryder Cup captain.
McGinley is a member of the five-man panel set to meet later this month to choose a successor to the victorious Dubliner.
But with Darren Clarke a hot favourite to outscore Hazeltine rival Miguel Angel Jimenez, McGinley indicated on the ever of the event at the Kuala Lumpur Country Club it be more who the players want to lead Europe rather than the wishes of the five-man panel.
“I see my job on the panel as collecting information and that’s one of the things I will be doing in coming weeks,” said McGinley.
Paul McGinley sees his Ryder Cup captaincy selection role as ‘information gathering’. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)
“I think it is very important that the new captain has the endorsement of the players and that is one of the things that has always worked well for us in Europe and that is the players have had a huge say in who the new captain should be.
“And I see the next decision no different.”
McGinley is also returning to competition after undergoing an operation on his long troubling knee and admitted he could struggle around the hilly Kuala Lumpur Country Club layout.
“I didn’t realise how hilly the golf course is because I haven’t played here before, so it will really test me,” he said.
“But then the golf course is in really good condition. It’s long and it’s playing long so there is no way of running the ball with the greens excellent.
“So it’s going to be a real challenge and I’m looking forward to it.
“It’s a great county Malaysia and the European Tour is very fortunate to have been coming here for a large number of years now, and to have a sponsor like Maybank who is celebrating 10 years association with the event is praiseworthy.”
Joining McGinley are his Irish compatriots Peter Lawrie, Damien and Graeme McDowell, and with the former US Open winner competing in the event for a first time since 2008.
