Paul McGinley says Jordan Spieth will struggle to win the Open
Last Updated: 14/07/15 10:58am
Paul McGinley feels Jordan Spieth will struggle to compete with the big hitters at the 144th Open, which begins at St Andrews on Thursday.
McGinley, who captained Europe to Ryder Cup success last year, does not feel the Scottish links course will suit the American’s game.
Spieth has already claimed the opening two major championships of the season – the Masters and the US Open – but Irishman McGinley feels he may struggle to pick up a third at St Andrews.
“The odds are against Jordan, I wouldn’t be backing him,” McGinley told Sky Sports News HQ. “The golf course, if it plays with a prevailing wind, which is in off the left and on the way out, is very advantageous to hitting the ball a long way.
“Holes like the par-five No 5, going into that green with a five or six iron compared to a three wood, is a massive advantage, particularly when the pin is in the front.
“Holes nine, 10 and 12 are drivable for the big hitters, 14 gets wider the further you hit it and 18 is also drivable for the big hitters. With Jordan not being one of those, it is going to put even more focus on his putting. Having said that, it will be interesting to see how he does.”
New role for McGinley
Meanwhile, McGinley has taken on a new captaincy role for the next year after he was unveiled as Ian Poulter's successor as captain of the Ballantine's Golf Club.
The unique online golf club was the first of its kind when launched at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, with Ryder Cup hero Poulter accepting the offer of being the inaugural club captain for the first year.
Poulter handed the reigns to McGinley at a ceremony hosted by Game Changers presenter Di Dougherty on the eve of last week's Scottish Open at Gullane, and the Irishman is relishing the role.
He said: "It is an honour to take up the position of captain of the Ballantine’s Golf Club; I’m really excited to be part of and lead this special online community. 2015-2016 is set to be a great year for the Club and I look forward to helping it grow from strength to strength.”
Peter Moore, Global Brand Director for Ballantine’s, added: “We have a rich, longstanding heritage in golf dating back to 1960 and the Ballantine’s Global Online Golf Club has marked a significant shift in our strategy within the sport. Our newly appointed captain, Paul McGinley, will continue to drive the success of the Club and we believe his leadership on and off the course will inspire golf lovers to join the Club and unlock the exclusive member benefits.”
The ceremony also featured the premiere of McGinley's Moment of Truth, a short documentary offering a unique insight into his golfing story, the obstacles he has overcome and the strength of his character that laid the foundations for his Ryder Cup successes.
The short video shows how McGinley overcame a serious knee injury at age 17 to have an outstanding career and become one of the greatest Ryder Cup Captains of his generation. It illustrates his leadership qualities and how he made team spirit such a key ingredient to his Ryder Cup success.
Membership to the Ballantine’s Global Online Golf Club is now open at www.ballantinesgolfclub.com, where you can view Paul McGinley’s ‘Moment of Truth’ Film.
