McDowell backs Clarke to step into McGinley’s shoes

Ryder Cup hero Graeme McDowell praised Paul McGinley as the best captain he had played under and then backed his friend Darren Clarke to succeed the Dubliner in 2016.

The ink is still drying on Europe’s victory over the United States at Gleneagles entering the record books yet the manoueuvring has already begun to get the nod to captain the blue and gold at Hazeltine National in Minnesota in two years.

McGinley, as a recent captain, will be part of a selection panel choosing his successor with the European Tour expected to announce its preference early in 2015.

Clarke, a vice captain at Medinah in 2012 and candidate for the job at Gleneagles, is a front-runner, and as the Europeans toasted their 16½-11½ victory in Scotland, McDowell said: “I am not sure who our next Ryder Cup captain will be. Say it is Darren Clarke, he would be the first guy I would call if I was going to be [picking the] Ryder Cup captain.”

The previous five Ryder Cup captains — Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam, Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal — had all enjoyed stellar playing careers, but McDowell added: “He (McGinley) kind of rocks the system from the point of view that he probably didn’t have the credentials deserving of a Ryder Cup captain and he was picked on the fact he could bring more to the table than maybe some of the more deserving captains.

“He was up for it and intelligent and schooled and really had served his time and sharpened his blade with the Seve Trophy and vice-captaincy and stuff.

“He kind of breaks the mould from the point of view that he’s not an eight-time Order of Merit champion, he’s not a Major champion but that’s really not what’s necessary to be a great captain.

“You just have to get it, you have to get the man-management of 12 egos and players in a system, understand what everyone needs.

“To me, Europe should follow this template in that it doesn’t have to be a great player to be a great captain. I think he has personified that.”

Clarke would have a hard act to follow in McGinley, and will be up against Miguel Angel Jimenez.

McDowell wanted to play more than the three outings he got at Gleneagles — missing both morning fourballs’ sessions — but accepted he was rested to stay fresh for Sunday’s singles.

“Maybe I was a little underplayed, I hadn’t seen many balls put in the hole. I hadn’t hit many iron shots. The way this golf course played out as regards foursomes, playing with Victor [Dubuisson] I hit about three iron shots on Friday and about four iron shots on Saturday. It was crazy.

“I really didn’t get a chance to hole many putts either, it was tough golf course. So going into the singles on Sunday, I felt a little undercooked. But I think generally, Paul has been the best captain I have ever played under.

“Regards for a guy who sits in front of 12 players whose careers will probably be better than his, the respect he commanded in the team room, the intelligence he spoke with, his message was so clear all week.

“I actually found myself listening to him thinking this guy is impressive, this guy is educated and this guy has really put a lot into what he is saying.

“I was so impressed at how much respect he had from the 12 players.

“The imagery, the visuals, the talks. If I was ever captain, he’d be one of the first phone calls I’d make. The mental preparation, the affinity he had with the team.

“Take how he handled myself and Victor Dubuisson. We were sure we’d be playing on Saturday morning and he sat us out. It was part of the masterplan to be fresh Sunday. Best one I’ve played under.”