McGinley: I'll be professional over Clarke vote

Paul McGinley insists his strained relationship with Darren Clarke will not influence his opinion on who should be Europe's next Ryder Cup captain.

Clarke is odds-on favourite to lead the side at Hazeltine in 2016, when Europe will be looking to claim their fourth straight victory and ninth in the last 11 contests.

The former Open champion sent McGinley a letter in 2011 offering his support for the latter's bid to become captain in 2014, but later changed his mind and also put himself forward for the role.

And when Tom Watson was named US captain in December 2012, Clarke suggested 2010 captain Colin Montgomerie should also be considered as "whoever it is standing on that stage opposite Tom Watson needs a huge presence".

With the public backing of players such as Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald and Ian Poulter, McGinley subsequently won the day but admitted recently that his conversations with Clarke were now "short and sweet" and amounted to little more than passing pleasantries.

However, the 47-year-old vowed to be professional when the new selection process gets under way.

Since 1999, the captain was selected by the European Tour's 15-strong tournament committee, but changes announced in August last year mean the responsibility now falls to the previous three captains (McGinley, Jose Maria Olazabal and Montgomerie), the Tour's chief executive and a tournament committee representative.

Asked by Press Association Sport if his relationship with Clarke would be a problem, McGinley said: "Absolutely no problem whatsoever. I'm going to be very professional in my input.

"I'm going to get opinions from a lot of players and a lot of people before I put my opinion forward as to what it will be. Just like I was very much pushed over the line by the players, I want to get the opinion of the players.

"I think a lot of us have benefited hugely from being vice-captains. Darren has been a vice-captain along with many other guys" - Paul McGinley

"I think we're very fortunate in Europe, a little bit like the Liverpool soccer team and the boot room, I think a lot of us have benefited hugely from being vice-captains.

"Darren has been a vice-captain along with many other guys. We will see where that all evolves and I'll make a professional decision based on the views of people that I respect."

As to whether he would be a vice-captain under Clarke, McGinley added: "I don't think I'd be vice-captain to anybody going forward to be honest. I'm very happy to help in an unofficial capacity but I don't think I have the personality to go back in as vice-captain.

"I would like to be able to support the new captain in whatever direction he went, and if I had a belief about a different area, I'm afraid there would be a conflict."

That means McGinley's Ryder Cup career is officially over, a career which has seen three wins as a player (2002, 2004 and 2006), two as a vice-captain (2010 and 2012) and one as captain.

"That's six I have been involved in and six wins," he said. "Like a heavyweight fighter, I will retire undefeated."

Undefeated but perhaps not uninvolved, McGinley raising the possibility of using his expertise in the same way he got former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson to speak to the team on Tuesday.

"What he did was he solidified my ideas and he gave me confidence that, yeah, my hunches were right" - Paul McGinley on Alex Ferguson's input

"I would certainly like to play a role, if required, a little bit like Alex Ferguson did this week for me," he added.

"I bounced ideas off him. He didn't preach to me. He didn't tell me what to do, but what he did was he solidified my ideas and he gave me confidence that, yeah, my hunches were right.

"I certainly won't be pushing myself forward (but) whoever the next captain may be, if he has any questions, I'll help in any single way I can."

Meanwhile, world number one McIlroy insists he is not the new Ryder Cup king-maker, but appreciates that his voice was heard.

"I wouldn't say I am a king-maker but I feel like my opinion and view is listened to," McIlroy said.

"I wanted to throw all my support behind Paul because I thought this would be his only chance to do it and I knew there was no better candidate and I'm glad he proved me right this week."

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

McGinley: I'll be professional over Clarke vote

Dengan url

http://olahragaenjoy.blogspot.com/2014/09/mcginley-ill-be-professional-over.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

McGinley: I'll be professional over Clarke vote

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

McGinley: I'll be professional over Clarke vote

sebagai sumbernya

Olahraga Enjoy