McGinley set for Ryder nod

PAUL McGINLEY last night gave the clearest indication yet that he will be one of Colin Montgomerie’s vice captains when the Ryder Cup takes place at Celtic Manor next October.

Heretofore, the 43-year-old insisted that he wished to be a playing member of the side and would only consider the offer of the vice-captaincy from Colin Montgomerie when all hope of doing so had evaporated. When I asked if there had been any recent developments – both Montgomerie and McGinley played in the French Open at the week-end – McGinley was up front with his reply.

“It’s not for me to say but put it this way, if I’m asked, it’s highly likely that I will take it,” McGinley said at the first round of the JP McManus pro-am in Adare Manor yesterday. “My golf has been so poor this year that I’m not even close to making the team. Even if I won twice between now and the end of the season, I don’t think I would be good enough to make the team. You can read between the lines.”