McGinley cool as Ryder Cup just a year away

Captain Paul McGinley believes $11m man Henrik Stenson is already 85% of the way to securing his place in next year’s Ryder Cup — and insists he has no worries about some of Europe’s other “flatlining” stars.

“Our points list is heavily weighted in favour of the world points list and Henrik has won twice in the FedEx Cup play-offs,” McGinley said & in Perth, Scotland, as part of celebrations marking one year to Gleneagles.

In contrast to Stenson’s brilliant form, the likes of former world number ones Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy, as well as Ryder Cup heroes Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell, failed to qualify for the 30-man field in the Tour Championship last week.

Stenson’s win at East Lake lifted him to fourth in the world rankings on Monday and dropped McIlroy to sixth, but asked if he was worried about the form of his star names, McGinley added: “Not at this moment. If it was this time next year, I’d be worried.

“Last year the players were very dominant going into Medinah in their individual performances, we had a lot of success. This year we have a couple of guys who are flatlining but things can change so quickly in golf.”

Europe have won seven of the last nine Ryder Cups and USA captain Tom Watson is desperate to regain the trophy and repeat his success at The Belfry in 1993 — the last time Europe lost on home soil.

Watson will be 65 at Gleneagles and hopes to make the most of his experience. “I have been there before and the players know that I have been there before.”