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Europe captain Paul McGinley reveals mental master plan behind Ryder Cup drive

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Captain Paul McGinley hugs Jamie Donaldson while teammate Lee Westwood  is congratulated by vice captain Sam Torrance  after winning their foursomes match against Matt Kuchar and Zach Johnson. Photo: EPA

Paul McGinley on Saturday gave a fascinating insight into the wide-ranging thought and planning he has put into building Europe’s players and partnerships into a team now on the verge of yet another Ryder Cup victory.

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McGinley has plotted since the day he was named captain 18 months ago and so far it has paid off spectacularly as Europe built a 10-6 lead on the back of successive dominant displays in foursomes, the alternate-shot format that demands teamwork.

While his American counterpart Tom Watson admitted he overused some of his players and was left virtually arguing with Phil Mickelson after omitting the Cup veteran from both sessions on Saturday, McGinley’s key decisions seem to have paid off.

The players don’t need cheerleaders, they don’t need to see the captain
Europe captain Paul McGinley

The Irishman said he spent more time considering the personalities of his players and how they got on with each other while giving a passing nod to golfing form when making his pairings.

“Personality is a massive part,” McGinley said. “Henrik [Stenson] and Justin’s [Rose] partnership came along because of personality more than golf game. There’s a particular reason why they were together.

“I think Graeme McDowell is a great guy to let Victor [Dubuisson] be Victor. I think Lee [Westwood] is a great guy to let Jamie Donaldson be himself.

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“There are other guys who need a little cajoling and like to have somebody a little bit spicy on their shoulder. That’s a huge part of it, that ability to just gel, that X-factor, that relationship between two guys is important.”
Graeme McDowell  and Victor Dubuisson celebrate winning their foursomes match. Photo: EPA
Graeme McDowell and Victor Dubuisson celebrate winning their foursomes match. Photo: EPA

McGinley has listed McDowell as his first player out for Sunday’s concluding singles at Gleneagles and revealed he had made that decision even before he was made captain, though he kept it to himself.

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