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.