McGinley already proving his Ryder Cup worth as Medinah on horizon

If anyone needed assurance, regarding the worth of Paul McGinley as a Ryder Cup vice-captain, and his potential as a European Team captain, then you only had to watch him interact with Medinah rookie, Nicolas Colsaerts.

McGinley was heading to the Dutch Open Player’s Lounge at Hilversum as Colsaerts was leaving. After the congratulatory remarks on making the team, McGinley then spent close to 30 minutes chatting with the Belgium on what to expect being a member of the European team.

McGinley touched on so many practicalities, such as what to wear to Heathrow Airport for the transatlantic flight, what to expect on arrival at the team hotel, tickets for family and friends, the number of suitcases he’ll be given to bring home team attire and what he should do if he wakes up at 2am feeling hungry.

The triple Ryder Cup-winning Dubliner also detailed likely practice schedules but of more importance is the sense of security Colsaerts should enjoy with Olazabal as captain, and that same sense McGinley savoured in 2004 under Bernhard Langer’s Oakland Hills leadership.

“The build-up to the Ryder Cup is always really exciting but once you get there, you’ll hit the ground running, and you will feed off the other guys,” said McGinley to Colsaerts.

“You will feed off the past experiences of everyone who has played on the team.

“It will be like jumping into a fast-flowing stream as you will be carried along by the flow of the water.

“The great thing is that you will be in a team where there are 11 guys who have been there before

“And while there will be a very serious side to the Ryder Cup, there is always an element of fun and with Sergio there this year that will be great for the team.

“But then, before you know it (clicks his fingers), it will be all over, so you have to enjoy it while you can.”

And with Colsaerts contesting this week’s Dutch Open and the following week’s Italian Open, McGinley stressed to the Belgian the importance in using his week off properly ahead of travelling to Chicago.

“Make sure that last week you chill out as you are going to need that,” he said.

“What you don’t want to be doing is thinking that you have to be up every morning practising hard and working out in the gym, as that’s going to burn you out.”

Colsaerts responded afterwards: “Paul was just fantastic and this is why I am playing these two weeks, to hear what people like Paul have to say and to use that information and the detail to help prepare myself.”

And Colsaerts will get more advice as he is playing the opening two Dutch rounds in the company of Olazabal and fellow teammate, Martin Kaymer.