McGinley keeping watch as Europe storm ahead

Paul McGinley declared he would be taking a backseat role but there was no hiding the enthusiasm of the European Ryder Cup captain on the opening day of the Seve Trophy near Versailles.

McGinley has his own ‘Paul McGinley’ named golf buggy and the Irishman was all about the St. Nom-la-Breteche course on a day when Jose Maria Olazabal’s European side scored a first round fourball 3½ to 1½ points victory over Sam Torrance’s GB & I side.

After the all-Scotland duo of Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher won the opening match 3&2 against Thomas Bjorn and Miguel Angel Jimenez it was then all blue with the European’s winning 3½ out of the next four.