• Ryder Cup

McGinley: Watson absence gives me the edge

As a young golfer, Paul McGinley could only dream that one day he would captain the European Ryder Cup team. And you would have to pinch him twice if you told him he would be going nose-to-nose with his hero, Tom Watson.

Watson was captain of the US team the last time they won on European soil - at The Belfry in 1993 - and looks to arrest a run of domination for Europe which has seen them win seven of the nine Ryder Cups since then.

But the 65-year-old has been away from the Ryder Cup scene since that final day in the Midlands, while McGinley has since played in three and been vice-captain on two occasions. And he believes it gives him the edge over his rival.

"No doubt I've been very privy," he said. "I've been riding shotgun on this great run of success we've had in Europe.

"I've learned so much from every one of those experiences and every one of those captains. I've got to know the players really well.

Watson unconcerned by time away

Paul McGinley and Tom Watson will lock horns at Gleneagles © PA Photos

• While Paul McGinley says being involved in recent Ryder Cups gives him a slight edge over Tom Watson, the American does not believe this is the case.
• When asked if he was at a disadvantage, Watson simply replied: "No."
• He added: "I've played in the Ryder Cup four times and I've been captain once [before]. That's experience.
• The only thing different here is the media responsibilities I've had. Everything else is the same - with the team, the preparation, the clothing ... It's all the same.
• When asked if he can still relate to players 40 years younger than him, Watson said: "They know I've played in the Ryder Cup before and they know I've been captain. They know I know what I'm doing.
• "They have respect for me and I have the ultimate respect for them.
• "It doesn't matter how old you are, we're needling each other and it's a lot of fun. We're on the same page."

"There's reasons we've been winning all these Ryder Cups - and we've come from underdog positions to win, so it's not always about having the best players. There's a template and my role is to enhance that template, try and make it better then roll it out again.

"The fact I've ridden shotgun twice as a vice-captain has been huge - and Medinah two years ago was a huge learning curve.

McGinley has insisted he will not be awestruck by Watson as the pair prepare to do battle at Gleneagles from Friday.

"I was a huge Tom Watson fan," McGinley added, "and I still am. He was my boyhood hero growing up.

"When I was at university in San Diego, I used to work on the range and my colleagues would cover for me if Watson was playing a practice round.

"It was a huge thrill for me when I finally got to play with him. His first words to me were, 'An Irishman is always welcome in my company'. Those words were just so heartfelt.

"But in terms of this week - I can't pay attention to him. I'm concerned with our team. I have a lot of things on my agenda. I have 12 players, 12 caddies, five vice-captains. It's a lot of people and a lot to process at the moment.

"I don't even know what groups Tom is going out with - I just know he is going to make some good decisions and he's going to have a strong American team out there and we are all prepared for that."

McGinley, a promising Gaelic football player before turning to golf in his late teens, promises to bring the team spirit and bonding he honed in those days to the Ryder Cup squad this week.

"There's something about being involved in a team that excites me," he said. "Something that brings me to a different level, which creates different feelings for me; that sense of bonding, that sense of camaraderie, that humour in the dressing room.

"I come from that background of banter, of humour, of one-liners, of guys giving each other a bit of stick in the dressing room - and I can really relate to it.

"The Ryder Cup is no different - and that's what we do.

"It's important, obviously, but there are a lot of nerves on that first morning when we get out there."

Alex Perry will be giving his insights from Gleneagles for the duration of the Ryder Cup. Follow him on Twitter: @AlexPerryESPN

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd