• Ryder Cup

McIlroy: Monty was wrong for Europe

ESPN staff
January 16, 2013
Rory McIlroy: The right man was chosen

Rory McIlroy maintains re-selecting Colin Montgomerie as Europe's Ryder Cup captain would have been a negative and unfair decision and has hailed player power in preventing it.

Instead of Montgomerie, Irishman Paul McGinley was selected to lead the European team at Gleneagles in 2014 and McIlroy believes the way future captains are chosen may have changed for good as a result.

McIlroy was a vocal supporter of McGinley in the press and through social media in the days before Tuesday's announcement, as were a host of other European golfers including Luke Donald and Ian Poulter.

Officially the decision was solely down to the Tournament Players Committee but McIlroy insists the players' voices helped avert Montgomerie's appointment.

"It would have been a backward step [appointing Montgomerie]," McIlroy told the Daily Telegraph. "I'm absolutely thrilled for Paul. I've been saying all along that the captaincy should be a one-time only deal because there are so many candidates waiting for their chance."

McIlroy added: "I knew they (his tweets) would have some influence. I think 28 hours ago Monty was favourite so I guess I've got some influence - it just shows the power of Twitter!

"It wasn't just me, Luke Donald came out in support, Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell, Justin Roseā€¦ the bulk of the European team. The way the Ryder Cup captain is selected might change in the future because of this. I don't think it should just be up to the committee, it should be up to the ex-players and players that are going to be close to the team."

McGinley has a successful leadership track record in team golf having twice been a winning Ryder Cup vice-captain (in 2010 and 2012) and a triumphant captain of Great Britain and Ireland in the Seve Trophy.

But he was under no illusions as to who, and what, he should thank first after being appointed captain outright for next year's competition in Scotland.

"I have never tweeted myself but if I have learned one thing recently it is the power of Twitter," McGinley said.

"And Rory, what can I say but thanks? To be endorsed by the world's best golfer and many other players who helped Europe pull off the remarkable win at Medinah last September is very humbling.

"I have a real passion for team golf and I love it. I love everything that goes with team golf."

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