McDowell Hits Fourball at Faldo

Sergio García’s European team-mates sprang to his defence after the former Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo criticised the Spaniard’s performance six years ago as “useless”.

While Faldo praised the 34-year-old’s overall contribution to the biennial contest he also claimed the player had a “bad attitude” in 2008 – Europe’s only defeat since 1999 – in scoring one point from four matches.

García, whose brilliant five-wood approach to the 18th green helped him and Rory McIlroy salvage a half from being two down with two to play against Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler, was reluctant to become embroiled in a row.

“Are you sure you didn’t misquote him? That’s unfortunate,” he said. “I guess he doesn’t feel European, that’s the only thing I can think of.

“You know, there’s a lot of things I could say about Nick Faldo but I’m not going to put myself down to his level.”

Some of the senior players alongside García in the press conference looked less than impressed. The upbeat mood of how Europe finished the day – with a 5-3 lead – had been brought down a notch by the issue.

“That’s a great question. OK. We’ll take the euphoria we all have from today and just crush it,” Lee Westwood, who with rookie Jamie Donaldson beat Jim Furyk and Matt Kuchar by two holes, said sarcastically.

But García’s team-mates were not prepared to leave him undefended and Graeme McDowell, in particular, felt it necessary to make a point about Faldo’s contribution to that Ryder Cup.

The then captain rested both García and Westwood on the Saturday after they had contributed a point from three matches on the previous day.

“I’ll make a comment on that,” said McDowell. “I’m a rookie playing the Ryder Cup in 2008 and you’ve got one of the best Ryder Cup pairings of all time being sat down on a Saturday morning of a Ryder Cup that we go on to lose.

“I’d say Sergio was fairly useless, yeah, because he wasn’t able to play.”

McIlroy, who asked to play with García and struggled through 36 holes with him on the opening day, put his arm around the Spaniard, and said: “You’re not useless.”

García responded by saying: “Thanks, Nick, I love you, too.”

The pair continued to talk off microphone as the press conference continued but neither looked happy.

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McGinley Names Opening Fourball Pairings

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Paul McGinley has selected the pairings for Friday’s opening Ryder Cup fourballs.

However, the Irishman will be happy to adapt his gameplan if any of his selections struggle to make an impact against the Americans.

Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson will lead Europe off against Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson, with Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer then taking on Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker.

Stephen Gallacher and Ian Poulter are third out against rookie duo Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed, followed by Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy, who have been asking to be paired together for months according to McGinley, against Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson. 

"I've gone with one rookie in the morning and Tom has gone with three. That might be a genius move by Tom, it might not," McGinley said.

"My ideas might backfire, as well, but that's what you do as captain, make your decisions, set out your stall, watch what happens and you adapt to what happens.

"There will be decisions I'll get wrong as captain, I'm prepared for that. But I'd like to think that I'll be able to adjust things and go forward.”

All four of Europe's pairs have not played together in the Ryder Cup before but that does not concern McGinley.

"These guys all know each other very well and you move forward," said McGinley, who had spoken all week about not changing the successful European template.

"Two years down the road, a different view and take on things, and games have evolved in slightly different ways and guys become more experienced.

"Ian Poulter is a very experienced player now. There's going to be a big atmosphere in that group, we'll need a guy with a big attitude for that and I think Ian Poulter fits that bill.

"Justin and Henrik spent a lot of time together at Lake Nona (in Orlando) over the years, know each other very, very well, and you have Sergio and Rory who have formed a real bond and friendship and respect for each other's games during the summer period.

"Things evolve and move. The template doesn't mean pairings have to be the exact same pairings."

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Harrington Joins McGinley Team

Paul McGinley has named Padraig Harrington, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Jose Maria Olazabal as his final vice-captains for the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles later this month. The tthree have 17 Ryder Cup appearances between them,

They will join Des Smyth and Sam Torrance in McGinley's back-room staff as the home side look to retain the trophy against the United States from September 26-28.

Olazabal played in the contest seven times and captained the side in the 'Miracle at Medinah' in 2012, while Harrington has made six appearances and Jimenez four. Jimenez was vice-captain to Seve Ballesteros in 1997 and Olazabal two years ago and was also made captain of the European team in the inaugural EurAsia Cup by McGinley.

McGinley said: "I know it's been common in the past to have three or four vice-captains but I've gone for five because I feel an extra person is justified due to the additional workload which comes from being the home team, in addition to how well I saw such a system working when we ended up having five vice captains under Colin Montgomerie at Celtic Manor in 2010 (Sergio Garcia was a late addition).

"Padraig is my oldest friend on Tour and is a guy I have known most of my life. We went to school together, came through the amateur ranks together and have been together in many contests for both Ireland and Europe over the years, so I know what he can bring to the team room.

"As far as Miguel is concerned, he is someone that the spectators love as well as being very popular with all the players. However, he is also a person that I respect very much. I have sat beside him for over a decade on the Tournament Players' Committee and have seen him exhibit an integrity on many occasions that is very admirable.

"Finally, Jose Maria's passion for the Ryder Cup is recognised the world over. It was obvious in his legendary partnership with Seve and was also so very apparent two years ago at Medinah, so I'm delighted he has accepted my invitation to be involved again, once more maintaining that important continuity."

"I have complete confidence and trust in all five of my vice-captains and the help they will give me in the difficult quest of trying to retain the Ryder Cup."

Harrington said: "I am really looking forward to being part of the Ryder Cup from a different angle to the playing side. That aspect of things is something that really interests me and I'm therefore delighted that Paul has given me the opportunity.

"Paul is a good friend of mine and I think he's done a great job in the captaincy thus far, therefore I don't necessarily think he needs that much help. But he knows I'm happy to get involved behind the scenes to give him and the players as much assistance as I can."

Jimenez, whose EurAsia Cup team secured a dramatic 10-10 draw in Malaysia in March, said: "I thoroughly enjoyed being captain of Europe at the EurAsia Cup which was a great opportunity for me and I am looking forward to bringing the experience I gained there to the team room at Gleneagles. I have a great relationship with all the players, having played alongside them regularly over the years."

Olazabal added: "Everyone knows how much the Ryder Cup has meant in my career and it's an occasion that I love being part of. It is a unique and special event - and I know that will be the case once again in Scotland in three weeks' time.

"I think we have a very good team in place but, as Paul said yesterday, we are under no illusions about how formidable a test the United States team will present. But he knows I will do everything I possibly can to help him and the players throughout the week."

Captain Names Ryder Cup Trio

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Stephen Gallacher, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood are Europe captain Paul McGinley's wildcard picks for the 2014 Ryder Cup.

McGinley had narrowed his selection pool down to five names, with former world No 1 Luke Donald and Italian Francesco Molinari the unlucky players who will miss out on this year’s highly-anticipated showdown at Gleneagles.

Gallacher is the only Scot in the team and his selection will no doubt add to what is expected to be a passionate atmosphere at Gleneagles when the tournament starts on September 26.

The 39-year-old – nephew of former Europe captain Bernard Gallacher – missed out on an automatic spot in the team by just one stroke following his third place in last weekend’s Italian Open.

On his three Ryder Cup selections, McGinley said: “I think we have three players that will add a lot to the nine already qualified and make the European team as strong as it needs to be to take on the might of America.”

McGinley admitted Gallacher’s sterling performance in Italy was a telling factor in selecting the Scottish rookie.

He added: “I think his performance last week in Italy under the spotlight was huge. He’ll look back at the end of his career - whatever he may go on to achieve - as being one of his highlights.

“What he did, how he did it, all credit to him. I spoke last week about dashing for the finish line and being gravitated towards the finish line, being excited about the finishing line and Stevie did all of those, so all credit to him.

“It’s very proud for him being Scottish. Again I’m lucky, having played a Ryder Cup in my home country I know what it’s going to be like for Stevie, how proud he will be and his family as well too.”

Poulter’s selection will not surprise many despite the 38-year-old’s poor form this season. Of players in the top 40, only Tiger Woods has picked up fewer world ranking points than Poulter this year.

But the 12-time European Tour winner has been part of three Ryder Cup winning teams and boasts the highest win percentage (80%) of any player who has played at least 15 matches in the tournament.

The Englishman is in typically bullish mood, telling Sky Sports News HQ: “I’m very, very excited – Gleneagles is going to be an incredible week. The American side are very, very strong and very tough to beat. But I think with Paul’s picks and the nine guys who had already made the team, we are going to be strong. We’re going to do the job.”

Westwood’s participation in the event means he will take part of his ninth Ryder Cup, a run which dates back to the 1997 tournament in Valderrama.

The 41-year-old’s form has been indifferent this year but appears to have turned a corner after a final-round 63 at last month’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.

McGinlay said: "Despite the fact that he has played in so many Ryder Cups – and I think this is going to be his ninth appearance - there was a real sense of pride with Lee that he’d made it on the team."

Donald’s omission from the team is a big call for captain McGinley - he has an excellent Ryder Cup record, taking 10.5 points out of a possible 15.

“That was a very difficult conversation for a number of reasons – personal more than anything else to be honest,” McGinley said.

“My relationship with Luke is very close - when played his first ever Ryder Cup match I was his partner in 2004. Every Ryder Cup he’s been involved in I’ve been involved in - the only one that both of us missed recently was 2008.

“He’s been an incredible performer over the years and his record in the Ryder Cup is absolutely outstanding. He’s a player that will no doubt go on to make many more appearances in the Ryder Cup and it was a very, very, very difficult call for me to make but one I had to do in the interests of the European team.”

Molinari also missed out but was praised by McGinley for accepting the decision with grace.

He said: “Francesco Molinari was a really serious contender. We gave him a lot of thought, a lot of consideration and again, just like Luke, incredibly humble and incredibly accepting of my decision on the phone even though it was a difficult call to make.

“I could not have asked two guys to accept the decision in a better way and I think it speaks volumes about them not just as golfers but as people as well.”

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