Pro Golf Now
Fansided

Ryder Cup 2006 Heroes Return to the K Club at Irish Open

By Joe Walton

KILDARE, IRELAND - SEPTEMBER 24: The European Team pose with The Ryder Cup Trophy during the closing ceremony after Europe win the Ryder Cup by a score of 18 1/2 - 9 1/2 on the final day of the 2006 Ryder Cup at The K Club on September 24, 2006 in Straffan, Co. Kildare, Ireland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
KILDARE, IRELAND - SEPTEMBER 24: The European Team pose with The Ryder Cup Trophy during the closing ceremony after Europe win the Ryder Cup by a score of 18 1/2 - 9 1/2 on the final day of the 2006 Ryder Cup at The K Club on September 24, 2006 in Straffan, Co. Kildare, Ireland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
AUCHTERARDER, SCOTLAND – SEPTEMBER 29: Paul McGinley, the victorious European Ryder Cup team captain, poses during a photocall at the Gleneagles hotel on September 29, 2014 in Auchterarder, Scotland. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
AUCHTERARDER, SCOTLAND – SEPTEMBER 29: Paul McGinley, the victorious European Ryder Cup team captain, poses during a photocall at the Gleneagles hotel on September 29, 2014 in Auchterarder, Scotland. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Paul McGinley

Europe have been blessed with some excellent Ryder Cup captains but few have been as thorough or as well respected among their players as Paul McGinley.

The way that McGinley masterminded Europe’s 2014 win at Gleneagles will go down in legend. He took time to listen and learn from his players and every single member of his team felt valued. The Irishman is sure to be called upon for captain’s duties once again but for now he’s happy to sit back and let others have a crack.

The 49-year-old will never get bored of hearing about Gleneagles but it is unfair to characterise him only as a top class captain. He has nine professional wins under his belt as a player and famously holed a nerve-jangling 10 footer in his singles to win the 2002 Ryder Cup at The Belfry.

2006 proved to be his last Ryder Cup appearance as a player but once again McGinley was pure class. He picked up two draws one of which came after conceding a 25ft putt to J.J. Henry to halve their match on the 18th green after a streaker ran across the putting surface. He was worried that his opponent had been put off and didn’t want to win unfairly even though it would secure a record European margin of victory. That speaks volumes about the man.

Next: Lee Westwood

Home/European tour