Paul McGinley

The guy’s got presence – that’s the first thing you notice about Paul McGinley. He’s got the physique of a middleweight prizefighter, an authoritative air of confidence and the characterful looks of a Mafia consigliere. Basically, if Sam Torrance is The Godfather (which is surely beyond question), then McGinley is the consigliere counseller to the Capo, the guy who straightens things out with a crooked smile and a knowing look.

As we hang about in the Presidential Suite at The Belfry on the morning of the press conference for the Quinn Direct British Masters in May, he knocks putts along the carpet into a William Hunt hat. “This room brings back a lot of memories,” he says, dragging a ball towards him and lining it up to the target. “This is where Sam Torrance conducted all his team meetings in 2002. There was a lot of stuff going on here, a lot of emotion. It was a very special week.”

He pauses for a second, strikes the ball to the back of the hat, looks up and says to no one in particular in his broad Irish brogue: “This shirt’s lovely, ain’t it?!”

2005 was a vintage year for the guy who most people would have thought might never reach the personal heights he did when sinking the winning putt for the European team in the 2002 Ryder Cup at The Belfry. Walking away with the big cheque at the ultimate event on the European Tour at the Valderrama Masters was great timing, leaving no one in doubt that this fourth tour victory and third spot to Monty and Cambo on the money list was nothing more than McGinley deserved.

What was the first paycheck you ever had?

“I worked in Brussels for the EEC and got paid £100 a week. I studied for a degree in international business in the States and it was a postgraduate job.”

Did you blow the lot?

“I did indeed. I think I bought a pair of shoes, a really glitzy pair of shoes,with bobbles on, thought they were really cool. I wouldn’t wear them now but back then I thought they were trendy.”

We first met you after your Saturday round at the BMW Open in Munich in 2004...

“Yeah, I remember. I was right in the thick of it with Freddy Jacobson, the day before the Ryder Cup team was named. I made the team, but Freddy missed out. It was a big weekend.”

You said: ‘I’m the original golf punk!’

“I am indeed.”

How come?

“Basically, punk rock is the music I was attracted to growing up as a kid. I saw U2 many times when they were a garage band playing in Ireland. Stiff Little Fingers were massive when I was growing up as well as The Undertones; and then obviously there were the English ones, The Clash, The Pistols, The Jam – even though they were mod – and The Damned. And from America there were The Ramones and The Dead Kennedys. You’d be hard-pressed to find another guy on tour who has the same kind of tastes. And I really like what you’re doing with the magazine.”

Don’t you have kindred spirits, musically? “Musically, just one – Trevor Immelman. We’ve had great chats about music – he’s the only one. It’s always come as a bit of a surprise to me how little music played a part in people’s lives when they were kids. I guess they were all down the golf course.”

Where were you then?

“Playing football with me mates, sitting in people’s bedrooms listening to their older brothers’ and sisters’ records and tapes.”

Have you ever played in a band?

“No, I’m not musically inclined at all except when I’m drunk.”

So you never had lessons or anything?

“No, too busy playing football.”

How come?

“Basically, punk rock is the music I was attracted to growing up as a kid. I saw U2 many times when they were a garage band playing in Ireland. Stiff Little Fingers were massive when I was growing up as well as The Undertones; and then obviously there were the English ones, The Clash, The Pistols, The Jam – even though they were mod – and The Damned. And from America there were The Ramones and The Dead Kennedys. You’d be hard-pressed to find another guy on tour who has the same kind of tastes. And I really like what you’re doing with the magazine.”

Don’t you have kindred spirits, musically? “Musically, just one – Trevor Immelman. We’ve had great chats about music – he’s the only one. It’s always come as a bit of a surprise to me how little music played a part in people’s lives when they were kids. I guess they were all down the golf course.”

Where were you then?

“Playing football with me mates, sitting in people’s bedrooms listening to their older brothers’ and sisters’ records and tapes.”

Have you ever played in a band?

“No, I’m not musically inclined at all except when I’m drunk.”

So you never had lessons or anything?

“No, too busy playing football.”

» Paul McGinley Part 2