European captain Paul McGinley has warned his Ryder Cup hopefuls, including the resurgent Rory McIlroy, against getting too distracted by September’s clash with the United States in Gleneagles.
McIlroy was made to rue the two-shot penalty he incurred during his third round on Saturday as he finished a shot behind Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship on Sunday.
But in tying for second place, with Phil Mickelson, he did continue a run of form that has seen him finish no lower than sixth in his last four outings and includes a dramatic victory at the Emirates Australian Open last month.
McGinley was always confident his fellow Irishman would turn the corner but while he thinks McIlroy’s current form could kick-start a memorable season, he has cautioned against looking too far into the future.
“I think he’s got a bit of a spring in his step,” McGinley said. “The win in Australia was hugely significant for him and I think if you look back through players over the years, so many great seasons are set up by a little flourish at the end of the previous season.
“He’s obviously got a little bit of confidence, off he goes. But there’s a lot of water under the bridge between now and then and the advice I’ve been giving to the players [in Abu Dhabi] is that the Ryder Cup will come to them, they don’t have to go to the Ryder Cup.
“It’ll come to them in time, the important thing is to focus each week on what they’re doing and try and win as many tournaments between now and September.”
McGinley will tee off in Doha at the Qatar Masters on Thursday, before returning to the UK to continue preparations for September’s shoot-out with the USA in Scotland.
The designs for the team’s uniforms are all-but finalised, but that is where the Irishman’s meddling with the 12 men charged with representing Europe will end, as the 47-year-old again made it clear there would be no interference with his players’ personal lives.
Responding to a question on whether he had given McIlroy – instrumental in his elevation to European captain – any advice during his difficult summer, McGinley said: “I’ve said this before, I was appointed as Ryder Cup captain not God. All of a sudden I don’t go around telling people how to live their lives so I’ve kept away.”
He may not see himself as a higher power but McGinley did have a warning for McIlroy, and his fans.
“Everybody has ups and downs in this game,” he added. “I don’t care who they are, whether they’re Tiger Woods, whether they’re Jack Nicklaus, whether they’re Rory McIlroy.
“Rory was on a continuous streak of good things happening, it was inevitable that things were going to have a little blip now and then.”
RYDER CUP ROOKIES
Who might have caught McGinley’s eye in Abu Dhabi…
Pablo Larrazabal
His coolness down the final stretch was impressive and had just one bogey on the back nine all tournament. Needs some consistency now.
Joost Luiten
The Dutchman was under par for three of the four rounds and if not for a poor third day could have been among the leading group. Has two top 10 finishes so far this year.
Rafael Cabrera-Bello
Much like Luiten, Saturday ruined the Spaniard’s title charge. That said, he showed his character and class to come back and shoot a 68 on Sunday and finish tied fourth.
Tommy Fleetwood
A poor fourth round ruined an otherwise encouraging tournament for the emerging Englishman. The birdies dried up after his seven-under round of 65 on Friday.
