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Flawless McGinley brings masterplan to life

Modest Paul McGinley was hailed by his players at the Ryder Cup © Getty Images

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"I don't see myself as a maverick," said European captain Paul McGinley ahead of the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. "This is not a time for me or Europe to have a maverick captain. It's a time for me to go in, identify the template, enhance it, and try to make it better, roll it out again and hopefully you hand it over to the next captain."

A lot was spoken by McGinley about his template, but little was given away. McGinley describes himself as "extremely lucky" to have "ridden shotgun on a lot of success". He is, of course, being modest. McGinley was a three-time winner as a player and a much trusted vice-captain in both 2010 and 2012.

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Since it was revealed he would captain Europe in the home of golf, no-one has worked harder in the past two years to ensure the Samuel Ryder trophy stays east of the Atlantic ocean than the likeable Irishman, who never at any point during his week in Gleneagles did you see without a broad smile across his face.

Following the win, McGinley said of his plan: "Coming up with it was easy. Executing it was the difficult part. And I've got 12 world class players who worked hard for me."

More modesty. But the fact is, McGinley was flawless this week.

Jamie Donaldson, who earned the point that sealed victory, was the first to heap praise on his leader.

"He's been sensational," Donaldson said. "Paul captained one of the Seve Trophies I played in and I told everyone he was going to be unbelievable here - and he's done a lot more than that."

Embracing McGinley, he added: "He's been incredible. It's been a hell of a week."

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Ian Poulter also had no problems in gushing about McGinley. "He was absolutely brilliant from start to finish. From motivational pictures on the wall, to how he spoke to and treated everyone in that team room; everyone was the same.

"Paul had a plan and the boys stuck to his plan and the boys have come through and executed nicely."

In contrast, American counterpart Tom Watson has been out of the Ryder Cup picture since being the last captain to win on European soil in 1993.

The man oozes class, and was the first person to congratulate Donaldson as the Welshman strode down the 15th fairway after his inch-perfect iron set-up what will soon be known as the Gimme at Gleneagles which won the Ryder Cup.

Legend has it Watson watched the shambolic display at Medinah before making a phone call and demanding to be put back in charge. But Watson's main problem? He's too damn nice to be a Ryder Cup captain.

One hopes that Watson isn't annihilated by his countryfolk after the 16.5-11.5 defeat, but the backlash has already begun. Phil Mickelson threw Watson under a bus in the US team's press conference, saying he could not understand why Paul Azinger's winning formula from six years ago was not followed.

"We had a great formula in '08," he said. "I don't know why we strayed. I don't know why we don't go back. What Zinger did was great."

There it is again: formula, template, model, outline. Whatever you call it: Europe had it and the Americans did not.

The players may have been the ones putting the balls in the holes, but it was the flawless tactics of Paul McGinley that really won this Ryder Cup.

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