Not quite someone without a care in the world, for he is nursing a shoulder injury, but Paul McGinley – the European Ryder Cup captain – didn't look like a man in need of any counselling. Nor someone required to take on the role of counsellor. The message, loud and clear, is a succinct one from the captain. No, there isn't any friction in the camp.
With golf's biggest team shindig set to be played out in Gleneagles in September, and his team is shaping up nicely on the back of a run of wins by Martin Kaymer (US Open), Justin Rose (the National) and most recently Graeme McDowell (French Open), the Dubliner has dismissed any hint of discontent between two prospective team members . . . namely McDowell and Rory McIlroy.
Possible disharmony
McGinley, at the Home of Golf where he hosted the annual Allianz Golf Camp which brought together young golfers from eight different countries – including two from Ireland – hasn’t specifically spoken to either McDowell or McIlroy on any possible disharmony but insisted he wouldn’t allow it become an issue that would in any way compromise Europe’s defence of the trophy.
More than that, McGinley confirmed that he would likely pair the two in combat at some stage of the Ryder Cup.
“If both of them make the team there is a very strong chance they will be playing as partners at some stage during the three days. I have no worries about it. I have complete trust in both of them that if either have an issue they will come to me. That hasn’t happened and I don’t expect it to happen,” said McGinley, who met with McDowell last week prior to the Ulsterman’s win in the French Open.
Indeed, McGinley’s open captaincy has featured regular communication with potential members of his team whilst also allowing them to focus on their own games at a time of the season which features big money events, including two upcoming Majors – next week’s British Open and next month’s US PGA – as well as the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
McDowell’s name was recently brought into the legal debate by McIlroy’s lawyers in the world number eight’s on-going court proceedings with Horizon Sports Management, which raised the potential for tension between the pair.
But McGinley yesterday took an opportunity to knock the issue on the head, stating: “Both of them are so professional in terms of what they do and their golf, and the Ryder Cup is a special thing, I really don’t see a problem . . . as I say, I expect them to be playing at least one match together at the Ryder Cup should both of them make the team.
“It is not going to become an issue in the team room and I won’t let it become an issue in the team room. I know that the guys are going to be professional enough that it won’t be an issue. I am not asking questions [of them] because I don’t feel it is my business to ask questions, it is their private business and I am not getting involved.”
Of course, McDowell currently remains outside of an automatic qualifying place – at the moment – but there is no mistaking captain McGinley’s admiration of the qualities that the northerner brings to the Ryder Cup.
“He is awesome. He is like Martin Kaymer, low maintenance. He is not coming demanding this or that, he is easy and he is competitive. The other guys (from the US) don’t like playing against him because he is competitive and tough. Zach Johnson is a similar guy on the American team . . . Graeme never gives [an opponent] anything.
Battling and competing
“He doesn’t block it in the water or pull it in the trees and hand you a hole or make a silly three-putt out of nowhere. He is a guy who is there on the greens, on the fairway, always battling and competing. And they are always the toughest guys to play.”
For his own part, McGinley has been troubled by a shoulder injury which he feels was aggravated by playing off a fibre mat on the range. Although he is entered for this week’s Scottish Open at Royal Aberdeen, McGinley is scheduled to undergo a scan on the bothersome shoulder today which will determine whether he plays in the tournament.
