Ryder Cup 2014: Paul McGinley hails team effort after Europe's Gleneagles triumph
Monday 29 September 2014 07:00, UK
Victorious European captain Paul McGinley spoke of his pride after guiding his side to an emphatic 16½-11½ victory over USA on the final day at Gleneagles.
Captaining the side for the first time, McGinley marshalled his troops to a sixth win in the last seven contests against America and a third in succession.
Speaking to Sky Sports afterwards, McGinley lavished praise on all 12 players and gave a special mention to debutant Jamie Donaldson, who claimed the match-winning point.
"Proud is the first word," McGinley said as he embraced the smiling Donaldson.
"I want to say it's been a real honour to get these 12 players, they have all been a colossus, all of them, the caddies, the backroom team, five vice-captains, it's been a huge team effort.
"This ugly face," McGinley said of Donaldson. "To see how happy it is, and the pride that we give to everybody and the happiness of the people in the stands...I'm giving it for everybody else, it's not for me.
"Playing is something very, very special and I said to the guys last night, as much as I've enjoyed captain, it's different than playing. Enjoy it, be out there and enjoy it, because the days happen so quick and they go. It's been a real great honour."
Unbelievable
McGinley also paid tribute to the American team and opposite number Tom Watson, who failed to mastermind a spectacular comeback on the final day.
He added: “For me personally, as European captain, I will now be forever linked in the game's history books to my golfing hero Tom Watson.
"We, the European team, now look forward to the next edition of the Ryder Cup in two years' time at Hazeltine National, Minnesota, we look forward to the challenge of defending the trophy on American soil.
"To the magnificent fans, thank you very much for your unbelievable, noisy, support this week.”
McGinley has offered to help any future European Ryder Cup captains after his impressive five-point win.
With recent tradition dictating that captaincy is a one-match affair, it is unlikely that McGinley will get another chance to lead a team in the biennial contest.
However, under a new selection process, McGinley and the two previous captains - Jose Maria Olazabal and Colin Montgomerie - will have a say in deciding the captain for Hazeltine in 2016.
"The Ryder Cup has been very good to me and I'm quite happy now to take very much a background (role)," McGinley said.
"I've got a role now in deciding who the next captain will be and we'll see where that goes in the next few months on behalf of the European Tour."
McGinley was asked if he would consider being a vice-captain in future, but added: "No, I've done my piece and I'm happy to have the honour and happy to help in any way going forward.
"I don't think it would be right for me to go into the vice-captaincy role. I don't know if I'd quite enjoy that, having done it, and then stepped up to captaincy.
"But I'm very happy to help the captain in any way. On the European side, obviously!"
