McGinley expects another close affair

Last updated: 27th February 2013

European captain Paul McGinley is anticipating another hotly contested Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in 2014.

While Europe have dominated the competition in recent times, McGinley reckons the United States have been unfortunate in the last two contests, both of which Europe won by a single point.

"The line is very slight between the two teams," McGinley told Sky Sports. "I'm very much aware of that and I'm also aware that Tom Watson will certainly up the ante on their side.

"I'm looking forward to the prospect of being involved with Tom Watson and leading a European team that I'm sure will be very strong as well."

The Americans have brought Tom Watson, who led them to success back in 1993, back into the fold as skipper to try and turn their fortunes around.

"There is not doubt that Tom is a major, iconic figure in world golf and is synonymous with success everywhere he's been, as a player and as an ex-Ryder Cup captain," said McGinley.

"He will bring a lot of support with him and has a great affinity with the Scottish people. I'm aware he will be a very formidable opponent in terms of captaincy, and also his team are going to be a very strong team.

"We've been very fortunate in the last two Ryder Cups to get over the line by a point on each occasion. I think again it has all the ingredients of a very, very close Ryder Cup."

McGinley is allowed to propose changes to Europe's qualification system, but says he is unlikely to do so.

"We've had great success over the last decade or two in Ryder Cups and I'm very much along the lines of: 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it.'

"Having said that, I may just make one or two tweaks. We'll have to see about that, I'm still doing a bit of research, speaking to a few people about what their are ideas are. I'll formulate my ideas shortly but safe to say I won't be straying too far off the path of the last couple of years."

McGinley added that he was open to making changes to the set-up of the Gleneagles course if it would help Europe's players, but that he would wait until nearer the time before making any decisions.

"It is the home team's prerogative to set up the golf course to give themselves the best opportunity of winning," said the Irishman.

"If I think there is something that I can do to help our team, in terms of setting up the golf course, I'm going to take advantage. That's what home advantage is.

"We'll have to see. As the team formulates, this time next year, and we see the kind of players that possibly could be in the European and American teams, I may just tweak things one way or the other."