McGinley bolsters his backroom
CAPTAIN Paul McGinley believes the knowledge base at his disposal will prove invaluable when Europe bid to retain the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles this month after naming Padraig Harrington, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Jose Maria Olazabal as vice-captains.
The experienced triumvirate have clocked up 17 Ryder Cup appearances between them and join City A.M. columnist Sam Torrance and Des Smyth as McGinley’s lieutenants.
This is the first time Europe have selected five vice-captains since 2010 when Sergio Garcia was a late addition and McGinley expects his backroom unit to replicate the smooth operation on show at Celtic Manor.
“They will bring valuable insight and experience,” said McGinley.
“I know it’s been common in the past to have three or four vicecaptains but I’ve gone for five because I feel the extra person is justified due to the additional workload which comes from being the home team. “In addition, I saw how well such a system worked when we ended up having five vice-captains under Colin Montgomerie in 2010.”
Spain’s Olazabal has contested the Ryder Cup seven times and captained the side during the Miracle at Medinah in 2012 while
compatriot Jimenez has made four appearances, two shy of Harrington’s tally.