Paul McGinley named 2014 Ryder Cup captain after beating off challenge of former skipper Colin Montgomerie He's not only a wonderful person abut a great ambassador for the game of golf. I've never had an opportunity to go up against him in a playing sense. To go up against him in a captaincy sense will be a real thrill for me. He had been in the frame for the job ever since being made Britain and Ireland captain against Continental Europe in the Seve Trophy in 2009. Whether hitting the shots or not, he was never on the losing side there either. Despite the credentials, he faced competition for the captaincy first from Darren Clarke, another of the vice-captains in the last two matches, and then Montgomerie. However, Clarke, two years younger, declared last Friday that "this may not be my time" and asked not to be considered at today's meeting of the European Tour's tournament committee in Abu Dhabi. Having won the 2011 Open and come through a slump in form, he wants to play in the match again - his last cap was seven years ago - and now becomes favourite to take charge in America in 2016. In the immediate aftermath of the 2010 contest at Celtic Manor in Wales - another one-point win for Europe - Montgomerie vowed he would not stand again. But once Watson's name was announced before Christmas, Clarke said that a rethink was possibly needed by the committee so that a big personality would be up against the five-time Open champion. That brought the 49-year-old Scot's name back into the frame for the first match on his home soil since 1973 - just a few miles from his house, in fact. "It would be a dream come true," Montgomerie said only on Sunday before flying to Abu Dhabi from South Africa. He has also stated, though, that he was not pushing for the role again, but was there if his fellow committee members considered him "the best man for the job." In the end they did not - to the relief of not only McGinley, but also Rory McIlroy. "I have a very strong opinion about this," the 23-year-old world number one said earlier in the day. I really think Paul deserves it. He has been a great player and a great personality for the European Tour over the years. I also played under him at the Seve Trophy in 2009 and I thought he did a great job. From all the captains I've played under, I think he was the best. McIlroy seemed to be perturbed that several members of last year's team do not serve on the tournament committee. Montgomerie, Clarke and McGinley are three of the 15 members, but the only current cup player is Francesco Molinari. "Myself, Ian Poulter, Luke Donald and Justin Rose have all voiced their opinion that they want Paul," he said. I would like to think our opinions are valuable to them and they make the decision based on that. The system faces a review before the 2016 match, with past captains likely to be part of a new body. McGinley may have had only four Tour wins in his career and therefore lack a high profile, but he will bring years of studying the art of captaincy to the position. "Personally, I love the tactical side of it, the motivational side and the team element of it - and I love being in the team room," he said in August. The team meetings always give me a great buzz as a player. I don't want to give too much away, but I do watch a lot of things you wouldn't even know about, including press conferences. I'm intrigued with it, I have to say. I'm intrigued with how Ryder Cups have been won and lost over the years. I've asked a lot of questions of a lot of people and got a lot of information, not just from our side. I've always enjoyed having a beer with the American players or captain afterwards. I've done that on a few occasions and asked them their strategy for the week and why did they make certain decisions. Now he and his wife Alison, a former player herself, must prepare themselves for 20 months of what Montgomerie and Olazabal have called intense scrutiny - and what Montgomerie also considers "an invasion of privacy" to some extent. McGinley's Ryder Cup record 3 appearances, 9 matches, 4½ points, vice captain 2010, 2012 McGinley made his Ryder Cup debut in the Friday afternoon foursomes, partnering Padraig Harrington to a 3 and 2 defeat to Cink and Furyk. Saturday afternoon saw McGinley and Darren Clarke secure a half with Jim Furyk and Scott Hoch. Europe won the competition at the Belfry, by the largest margin of victory in the Ryder Cup since the 1985, with a margin of 15½ to 12½. Both teams were tied at 8 points going into Sunday's singles matches, when momentum began to swing in Europe's favour, and with ½ point needed for victory, McGinley secured victory for Europe in his last day singles match with Furyk, with a 10 foot par putt on the 18th hole. In Europe's victory over the USA with a margin of 18 ½ to 9 ½ at Oakland Hills Country Club, McGinley and Luke Donald halved with Stewart Cink and Chris Riley in Friday's Fourballs. On Saturday's Foursomes, McGinley and Harrington beat Davis Love III and Tiger Woods 4 and 3. In the last day singles, McGinley beat Cink 3 and 2. As Europe thrashed the USA 18½ to 9½ to win the Ryder Cup for a record third time in a row after dominating the singles at the K Club in Ireland, McGinley and Harrington halved with Chad Campbell and Zach Johnson in the Day 1 Foursomes. The Day-2 Foursomes saw McGinley and Harrington lose to Furyk and Woods 3 and 2. In the last day singles, McGinley famously offered a handshake to J.J Henry, as Henry lined up a long putt to half their match. Had McGinley not made the gesture of sportsmanship and Henry not made that putt, the USA could have suffered their highest record defeat. Europe won by a score of 14½ to 13½ to beat defending champions, the USA and regain the Cup, its sixth victory in the last eight competitions. In one of the closest and most exciting tournaments in recent history, McGinley was selected by Europe captain Colin Montgomerie as 1 of his 4 vice captains at Celtic Manor Resort. Medinah witnessed a record comeback as Europe produced a final day comeback to beat the U. S. A by 14 ½ to 13 ½. Again, McGinley was selected as a vice captain by José María Olazábal, and continued his record of never being on the losing side at the Ryder Cup.