Days after the US Ryder Cup Committee announced the appointment of a former caddy as Team Manager for the 2025 US Ryder Cup team, the European Ryder Cup captain named Paul McGinley as a ‘strategic advisor’ for next year’s games in New York .
Having already named Thomas Bjørn and Edoardo Molinari – who were Marco Simone’s teammates last year – as co-captains again, the addition of McGinley by Donald adds more knowledge and understanding of the Ryder Cup field to the European structure as well. preparation.
The Irishman led Europe to victory in the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, having appeared in three winning teams as a player, twice as vice-captain.
In addition, since 2019, the 57-year-old Dubliner has also been part of the Ryder Cup Advisory Committee which was set up to help increase the commercial impact of the competition. He will continue in that role, alongside Chairmen Sir Damon Buffini, Ian Ritchie and Richard Scudamore.
“I’ll be far behind as a sounding board”
Commenting on his new role, McGinley said: “We’ve obviously built a strong template to win home Ryder Cups, but I see my job as helping Luke, his vice-captains and his backroom team look further afield. match the way we looked at it before.
“I would say that the first important step we took in this regard was to re-appoint Luke as captain. He has the latest experience of anyone in that role and we should look to use that experience and use his knowledge. Apart from giving strategic advice in the away game, I see this role as double for me. Firstly, I will be very much behind as an independent sounding board for Luke and his Vice Captains, someone they can confide in, discuss and bounce ideas off of.
Second, I will provide an important liaison between Luke and the Advisory Committee so that they not only know about the team’s plans, but also ensure that we are all pulling in the same direction.
“Paul is the man to listen to when talk turns to the Ryder Cup”
Donald said: “Paul is someone whose thoughts and opinions about golf I always respect. We’ve talked a lot over the past few years and those conversations are always stimulating and challenging. He is the person to listen to when talk turns to the Ryder Cup. Naturally, I am delighted to have him officially join the 2025 team.
“I may not have been at Gleneagles in 2014, but I know what a wonderful job Paul has done. He has redefined the role of Ryder Cup captain in his own meticulous way, and I feel every captain since 2014 has benefited in some way from what he achieved at Gleneagles.
“I personally received a lot of sound guidance from Paul when I was preparing to go to Rome which was a great help to me. Paul and I, along with my two Vice-Captains, Edoardo and Thomas, we all share the same beliefs about what it means to represent Team Europe and what we expect from our players. “
Donald led Europe to a 16½-11½ victory in Rome last year. Re-appointed to the role in November, he became the first European captain since Bernard Gallacher led Europe to three consecutive Ryder Cups in 1991, 1993 and 1995.
The former World Number One is now aiming to become only the second captain to lead Europe in home and away wins, following Tony Jacklin who won the double at Muirfield Village in 1987, and retained the Ryder Cup following his side’s victory two years ago at The. Belfry in 1985.
Last week the US Ryder Cup Committee appointed John Wood, who has played six Ryder Cup matches, to the new position of Team Manager, an advisory position separate from that of team captain, a position that has yet to be filled by the team. The US team.
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