‘Golf’s a challenge when Ryder captain’

It was not surprising victorious Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley should walk off the final green in his final tournament of 2014 confessing he had never played a proper golf season.

McGinley’s 23rd straight tour season concluded just prior to 3pm local Shanghai time after he landed a 4-iron to just five feet but missed his birdie putt in a round of 71 for a two under par tally in the BMW Masters.

It earned the Dubliner a prize cheque for €52,100 but given he was competing on an invitation the money does not count on the Race to Dubai money list and McGinley ends his year 168th on that ranking.