G-Mac backs McGinley choice for Rio

Paul McGinley gives Graeme McDowell encouragement before the singles at Gleneagles. Picture Eoin Clarke, www.golffile.ie

Graeme McDowell has backed Paul McGinley as the "natural" choice to lead Ireland's golf team to Olympic gold.

Speaking at the Franklin Templeton Shootout in Florida, G-Mac assessed McGinley's appointment as the golf Team Leader for Rio and said: “After the job Paul did at the Ryder Cup he’s a natural choice to be Ireland’s captain at the 2016 Olympics

“We lead some strong leadership in Rio because of the unknown quantities of the Olympics from the drug regulations through to the travel arrangements, through to the golf course, through the logistics and right through to the scheduling.

“Given golf has not been a part of the Olympics since 1904 there is so many unknowns and we need someone with the organisational capabilities of a Paul McGinley.

“The job he did at the Ryder Cup left no box unticked, so I’m excited to see him appointed as Ireland’s Olympic Team Leader."

McDowell a key player for McGinley in the Ryder Cup and repaid him with three wins out of three.

G-Mac said: “For the first time even in my four Ryder Cups, the captain had a huge belief in me."

On hearing of McGinley's Olympic Games appointment, he added: “It makes me even more excited to want to be a member of Paul’s Olympic team, and to have someone with his type of skills set is what the team needed.

“His appointment is going to be inspirational for all the Ireland players to want to be on his team, and I am sure Paul, and just like he did with the Ryder Cup, will spend the time getting his head around what is required.

“I know too if I do make the team, and that now is a big goal of mine, Ireland will be in pretty good hands when we tee up in Rio."