McGinley urges end to Faldo bashing
Paul McGinley still hopes to be involved in a future Ryder Cup campaign
Paul McGinley was unable to take much comfort out of the support of former Ryder Cup winning captain Bernhard Langer when he called for the Irishman's re-appointment as a Valhalla vice-captain.
Langer stated European Captain Nick Faldo is making a big mistake in taking just one assistant -- Jose Maria Olazabal -- to Kentucky.
But the triple Ryder Cup winner McGinley said he would not be drawn into disrupting Faldo's final preparations before the team leaves from London on Monday.
"It's all over and it's done and dusted and I'm not going -- so it's end of story as far as I am concerned," said McGinley after carding a one-over-par 73 in the first round of the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Cologne.
"Faldo was very clear in his press conference, so end of story. It doesn't need to be discussed.
"Some day in the future I would love to be a Ryder Cup captain, but there is a lot of water to go under the bridge before I am in that category.
"It's nice that Bernhard said I would be a good asset, but I don't want to take anything away from Nick's captaincy. He's captain. He's made his decisions. He's laid it on the line that he is going ahead with the decisions, so it's important that I and everyone else steps back and lets the team and Nick get on with it.
"At the end of the Ryder Cup, there will be all kinds of 'what went right and what went wrong or whatever the case maybe,' but up till then I am not going to get drawn into any controversy.
"It's quite clear -- and he said it in his press conference -- that he won't be taking anybody else, so the matter is closed."
In-form
McGinley and fellow Irishman Peter Lawrie, who carded a level par 72, played the opening round in the company of reigning Irish Open champion, Richard Finch, who shared the lead on six-under-par with in-form Frenchman Jean-Francois Lucquin.
The flaxen-haired Finch birdied five of his opening seven holes before back-to-back bogeys at eight and nine.
He added further birdies at 11, 13 and 15 on the inward nine for his opening 66.
Lucquin dropped just one shot a mere four days after claiming victory over Rory McIlroy in the Omega European Masters.
And it was revealed yesterday that the champagne shower Lucquin received last Sunday after his Swiss success had been intended for Irishman Rory McIlroy.
McIlroy's manager, Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler purchased three bottles of bubbly to celebrate the 19-year-old's expected maiden Tour success. However, when the Belfast teenager was beaten in the play-off by Lucquin, Chandler gladly handed over the champers to a number of grateful French players headed by Raphael Jacquelin, who proceeded to drench Lucquin and his four-year old son, Arthur.
"It's unbelievable, since last week it's been like a dream,'' said the 29-year-old, who will be trying to make it three wins on the trot for France here in Cologne. Damien McGrane heads the five-man Irish contingent following a two-under 70. Ryder Cup rookie Graeme McDowell signed off for a 72, while Darren Clarke dropped three shots over his closing two holes for a disappointing 76.
- Bernie McGuire in Cologne
