As Paul McGinley, gleaming silver trophy in hand, walked around the car park in Fota Island on Sunday evening, the Dubliner's mind was already moving forward to later in the week when he again assumes the captaincy role in Ireland's attempt to win the Alfred Dunhill Cup.
"I'm looking forward to it . . . we have a good team," remarked McGinley, freshly installed as the Smurfit Irish PGA champion. Yesterday, however, it was back to bread-and-butter stuff for McGinley who hosted a corporate day at Luttrellstown Castle, where he is touring professional.
Apart from the silverware, McGinley, importantly, walked away from Fota as a winner again - and that should prove timely heading into a team event where Ireland has, traditionally, done well. Ireland won the tournament in 1988 and 1990 (beating Australia and England respectively) but haven't managed to win since the move to a round robin format to decide the semi-finalists, who then participate in knockout fare.
Twelve months ago, McGinley also held the captain's duties on the same three-man team completed by Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington. This week's tournament is enhanced by the presence of two of the season's major winners, Ernie Els of South Africa and Justin Leonard of the United States.
Colin Montgomerie, despite indicating he was a "tired player" when losing in the quarter-finals of the World Matchplay at Wentworth, will play for Scotland, while Miguel Angel Martin's presence in the Spanish side should provide considerable interest. The draw for the four group sections will be made tomorrow with the top eight teams being seeded based on the world rankings.
However, McGinley and company will hope for better fortune than last year when they were denied a place in the semi-finals only by a play-off win by Els over Clarke. After 162 holes of golf, it all came down to one suddendeath hole and South Africa progressed and Ireland were left with a free weekend.
"I'm really looking forward to the Dunhill Cup, it's an event I love. However, I appreciate I need to play better than I did for the last two rounds at Fota. My short game, which has been the area I have been working so hard on for the season, just wasn't good enough," said McGinley. "But winning is a real confidence booster and it should stand me in good stead heading for St Andrews."
Incidentally, McGinley faces a demanding end-of-season schedule: he plays the Dunhill this week, then competes in the Oki Pro-Am next week, followed by the Volvo Masters in Monte castillo and then the Sarazen Open before getting one week's rest prior to the World Cup in Kiawah Island. Clarke has decided to review his season's end programme and has withdrawn from the Kapalua Invitational in Hawaii next month.
