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Ryder Cup 2014: Europe put faith in Sir Alex Ferguson’s boot-room brilliance Ryder Cup 2014: Europe put faith in Sir Alex Ferguson’s boot-room brilliance
(35 minutes later)
Sir Alex Ferguson’s managerial talent seamlessly spanned decades. Few could have foreseen it doing the same between sports. Tuesday morning at Gleneagles and more than a few double-takes as Ferguson marches down the fairways of the PGA Centenary Course. If the attire was suitable for golf, the aura was unmistakably Ferguson.Sir Alex Ferguson’s managerial talent seamlessly spanned decades. Few could have foreseen it doing the same between sports. Tuesday morning at Gleneagles and more than a few double-takes as Ferguson marches down the fairways of the PGA Centenary Course. If the attire was suitable for golf, the aura was unmistakably Ferguson.
It seemed typical that the 72-year-old, who had been so adamant when telling Paul McGinley that his role with the European team should be a closely-guarded secret, announced it himself in such a very public fashion. Typical Ferguson, you might say; he controlled the flow of information, even over the head of the captain. It seemed typical the 72-year-old, who had been so adamant when telling Paul McGinley his role with the European team should be a closely guarded secret, announced it himself in such a very public fashion. Typical Ferguson, you might say; he controlled the flow of information, even over the head of the captain.
Ferguson’s chat to the Ryder Cup holders inside the Gleneagles Hotel on Tuesday evening is far from a novel concept. Sporting and, in the case of the United States, military figures have been utilised frequently by Ryder Cup captains with the aim of giving their teams extra inspiration. It remains entirely possible that war veterans will appear in the US team room before this week is out, as fruitless such an exercise has proven in the recent past. Ferguson’s chat to the Ryder Cup holders inside the Gleneagles Hotel on Tuesday evening is far from a novel concept. Sporting and, in the case of the United States, military figures have been utilised frequently by Ryder Cup captains with the aim of giving their teams extra inspiration. It remains entirely possible war veterans will appear in the USA team room before this week is out, as fruitless such an exercise has proven in the recent past.
During his daily media conference on Tuesday, McGinley seemed slightly irked that Ferguson’s latest team-talk had become public knowledge before Europe’s captain had informed his team. “We wanted a bit of surprise for the players. But I guess it’s not a surprise,” McGinley said. During his daily media conference on Tuesday, McGinley seemed slightly irked that Ferguson’s latest team talk had become public knowledge before Europe’s captain had informed his team. “We wanted a bit of surprise for the players but I guess it’s not a surprise,” McGinley said.
“Everybody seems to know except the players. I’ve been trying to keep it quiet. I mean, Alex is particularly keen on keeping it quiet, but I guess that’s not the case anymore.” “Everybody seems to know except the players. I’ve been trying to keep it quiet. I mean, Alex is particularly keen on keeping it quiet but I guess that’s not the case anymore.”
The Irishman did expand slightly on the motivation behind his decision to involved the former Manchester United manager. Beyond the fact that, as Europe’s captain conceded, he knew Ferguson had a bit of time on his hands nowadays. He did expand slightly on the motivation behind his decision to involved the former Manchester United manager. As Europe’s captain conceded, he knew Ferguson had a bit of time on his hands nowadays.
“I’ve always loved the way his teams played,” McGinley said. “And there’s a number of things that he was dealing with that he was particularly good at that I think he’ll be a particularly strong fit. “I’ve always loved the way his teams played,” McGinley said. “And there are a number of things he was dealing with that he was particularly good at. I think he’ll be a particularly strong fit.
“This is not about him being a headmaster and coming in and preaching to them. This is about fun. The areas that I’ll be talking to the players about, him relating it to football and getting some football stories. So very much like to think that we’re both coming from the same direction and he’s talking along the lines that I’ll be talking this week.” “This is not about him being a headmaster and coming in and preaching to them. This is about fun. The areas I’ll be talking to the players about, him relating it to football and getting some football stories. So I very much like to think we’re both coming from the same direction and he’s talking along the lines I’ll be talking this week.”
McGinley added: “He’s a very keen golfer. He watches a lot on TV. He knew a lot about the players, and he’d watched them and observed a lot of them and was very keen on getting to meet the ones he had not met. And of course the players are mad about football.” McGinley added: “He’s a very keen golfer. He watches a lot on TV. He knew a lot about the players. He’d watched them and observed and was very keen on getting to meet the ones he had not met. And of course the players are mad about football.”
The next Ferguson-led question to McGinley proved one too far. “We’ll talk a little bit more about that tomorrow,” came the Irishman’s reply. “I don’t want to steal his thunder and talk too much about him. I’ll give you more insight after he speaks to the players.” The next Ferguson-led question to McGinley proved one too far. “We’ll talk a little bit more about that tomorrow,” came the reply. “I don’t want to steal his thunder and talk too much about him. I’ll give you more insight after he speaks to the players.”
By mid-afternoon, Ferguson had been driven from Gleneagles, where he would return by dinner time. He is expected to be around for at least a portion of the Ryder Cup proper. He may well run into another Scottish golfing enthusiast and regular tournament attendee: his failed successor at United, David Moyes. By mid-afternoon, Ferguson had been driven from Gleneagles, where he would return by dinner time. He is expected to be around for at least a portion of the Ryder Cup proper. He may well run into another Scottish golf enthusiast and regular tournament attendee: his failed successor at United, David Moyes.
In what will be interpreted as a nod towards his own golfing status, Tom Watson raised a smile when asked what motivational speakers he may employ in the coming days. “I have already given the players some talks,” Watson said. “And I will be continuing.” In what will be interpreted as a nod towards his own status, Tom Watson raised a smile when asked what motivational speakers he may employ. “I have already given the players some talks,” he said. “And I will be continuing.”
Still, it would be unfair to suggest McGinley in any sense needs this external intervention where Watson does not. For a start, Europe have a captain far more in tune with his players than his opposite number. Still, it would be unfair to suggest McGinley in any sense needs external intervention where Watson does not. For a start, Europe have a captain far more in tune with his players than his opposite number.
For all that the European contingent – minus Victor Dubuisson, perhaps, who doesn’t care for football – will relish some dressing-room anecdotes from Ferguson, it is debatable what meaningful impact they may have. Motivation is never in short supply at a Ryder Cup; it is the captain’s job, not that of an outsider, to add any extra where required. McGinley was clear that Ferguson wouldn’t be anywhere approaching his tub-thumping football manager character. For all that the European team – minus Victor Dubuisson, perhaps, who does not care for football – will relish some dressing-room anecdotes from Ferguson, it is debatable what meaningful impact they may have. Motivation is never in short supply at a Ryder Cup; it is the captain’s job, not that of an outsider, to add any extra where required. McGinley was clear Ferguson would not be anywhere approaching his tub-thumping football manager character.
Perhaps more necessary in a week such as this is something to break the routine, to maintain a strong camaraderie and to avert boredom among a group of players who are spending yet another week in a hotel after the rigours of a long golfing season. Ferguson has undoubted talent for captivating any audience. Perhaps more necessary in a week such as this is something to break the routine, to maintain a strong camaraderie and to avert boredom among a group of players who are spending yet another week in a hotel after the rigours of a long season.
He has previous for this kind of stuff, after all. Ferguson’s connection to Andy Murray only began with a message of support after the tennis star lost to Roger Federer in the 2012 Wimbledon final. Fast forward 12 months and Murray credited Ferguson with delivering advice he said was like “gold dust” on the road to success in SW19. Ferguson has undoubted talent for captivating any audience. He has previous for this kind of stuff, after all. Ferguson’s connection to Andy Murray only began with a message of support after the tennis star lost to Roger Federer in the 2012 Wimbledon final. Fast forward 12 months and Murray credited Ferguson with delivering advice he said was like “gold dust” on the road to success in SW19.
McGinley should not need such magic to see off an uninspiring US team. But every little helps. McGinley should not need such magic to see off an uninspiring USA team. But every little helps.
Other notable Ryder Cup speakersOther notable Ryder Cup speakers
George W Bush 1999George W Bush 1999
The US captain Ben Crenshaw enlisted an unlikely motivational tool in the then Texas governor. Speaking to the players in the locker-room on the eve of the final day, he read an excerpt from the Battle of the Alamo, which stirred the team so much they mounted one of the greatest comebacks in Ryder Cup history in a 14½ to 13½ victory. The USA captain Ben Crenshaw enlisted an unlikely motivational tool in the then Texas governor. Speaking to the players in the locker room on the eve of the final day, he read an excerpt from the Battle of the Alamo, which stirred the team so much they mounted one of the greatest comebacks in Ryder Cup history in a 14½ to 13½ victory.
Gareth Edwards 2010Gareth Edwards 2010
The man who inspired the Lions to successive Test victories over New Zealand and South Africa in 1971 and 1974 was asked by 2010 Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie to address his troops on the eve of the competition. He later described the speech as “fantastic.” The man who inspired the Lions to successive Test victories over New Zealand and South Africa in 1971 and 1974 was asked by 2010 Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie to address his players on the eve of the competition. He described the speech as “fantastic.”