Expect perfectionist McGinley to have everything down to a tee today
The first would have been how he presented to his players and to the media at large. First impressions count. At Valhalla in 2008, the last time that Europe lost the Ryder Cup, Nick Faldo looked decidedly unprepared from the word go, and things went from bad to worse. The same cannot be said for Captain McGinley, thankfully. To date, he has looked composed, prepared and most importantly he has his players fully engaged.
The second issue that will preoccupy his mind today will be his opening ceremonial speech, where he will outline the hopes and aspirations of his European team, not only to his USA counterparts but also to the golfing world at large. Being a perfectionist, he will have already practised his speech many times — but now he will have to deliver it to his own players. Will he hit the right notes? Will it motivate and galvanise his players? Will the media be happy?
The final and most important issue will be the form of his team coming into this week. On paper, his team are favourites but form can be fickle and the likelihood is there will be at least a few players struggling for form.
Based on reasonable assumptions, McGinley would have entered this week with an idea of the likely pairing combinations he will use for the opening fourball and foursomes sessions tomorrow but indifferent form could change all that.
For example, Ian Poulter’s record in the Ryder Cup with Justin Rose as a partner, is exceptional, so you would expect them to be paired together. But Poulter’s form all year has been poor. Is McGinley going to take a chance on him delivering — as he has consistently in the past, or is he going to play the form player?
From an Irish point of view, there has been much talk about Rory McIlroy pairing up with Graeme McDowell once more, but where is the evidence in their record that shows that they are a formidable pairing, having won 2, lost 3, and halved 1 match in Ryder Cup matches to date?
Having said that, McGinley is no fool and he has history with this pair having captained both of them in the Seve Trophy in 2009. He even credits them for his first victory as a captain.
If McGinley were to exercise the option to use McIlroy with McDowell, when would he most likely do so?
Certainly not in the fourballs anyway. Why? Because McIlroy is a fast player who likes playing first, and following McIlroy’s power game is intimidating. McDowell openly admits to this, saying that it has affected their performances. Would McIlroy play second? Definitely, if asked, but because there are so many other combinations with McIlroy available to McGinley, it is highly unlikely that we will see them paired together in the fourballs
The foursomes matches are a different matter altogether. This is a discipline that would very much compliment their mutual strengths as players but for the first day I would expect their collective talents to be best used somewhere else. For McDowell, that may well mean as a leader, playing with a form rookie like his practice partner, Victor Dubuisson.
In truth, McGinley has an abundance of riches in terms of players he can pair with others.
Expect the first days pairings to be a strong combination of very experienced players but McGinley is brave enough to go with form too. If McDowell is to partner McIlroy, then I can only see it happening in the afternoon foursomes on the second day, and only if Europe are in trouble in the match.
Either way, both of his Irish stars will be giving everything for the European cause this weekend.
