McGinley back in Ryder Cup fold as ‘strategic adviser’

Former captain Paul McGinley has been made a “strategic adviser” to Europe’s Ryder Cup team for next year’s contest in New York.

McGinley joins vice-captains Thomas Bjorn and Edoardo Molinari in Luke Donald’s backroom staff as the former world number one bids to become only the second European captain after Tony Jacklin to win both home and away.

Dubliner McGinley led Europe to victory at Gleneagles in 2014 and also played on winning sides at the Belfry in 2002 – where he holed the winning putt – at Oakland Hills in 2004 and the K Club two years later before being a vice-captain under Jose Maria Olazabal for Europe’s last away win at Medinah in 2012.

“It is clear we have built a very strong template for winning at home in Ryder Cups but I see my job as helping Luke, his vice-captains and his backroom team to look at an away match differently to how we’ve looked at it before,” McGinley said.

“I would say that the first important step we made in that regard was to reappoint Luke as captain.

“He has the most recent experience of anyone in that role and we should look to utilise that experience and harness his knowledge.

“In addition to advising strategically on an away match, I see this role as two-fold for me. Firstly, I will be very much in the background as an independent sounding board for Luke and his vice-captains, someone they can confide in, converse with and bounce ideas off.

“Secondly, I will provide an important link between Luke and the (Ryder Cup) Advisory Committee so that not only are they aware of team plans, but also to ensure we are all pulling in the same direction.”

Donald said: “I might not have been at Gleneagles in 2014 but I know what an amazing job Paul did.

“He redefined a lot of the Ryder Cup captain’s role with his meticulous approach to it, and I feel every captain since 2014 has benefited in some way from what he achieved at Gleneagles.”

The United States have yet to name their captain for next year’s contest at Bethpage, with favourite Tiger Woods recently casting doubt on his availability due to his role in the negotiations between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.