McGinley claims Team Europe changes "came at the right time" after LIV exodus

21 September 2023 , 09:00

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Paul McGinley begins the change in the European team came at the right time (Image: Getty Images)

Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley believes the changing of the guard within the European team "came at the right time" ahead of next week's clash in Rome.

Luke Donald leads a new-look team to Marco Simone in pursuit of regaining the Ryder Cup, with four rookies included in the Englishman's 12-man setup. Whilst the Europeans have welcomed an influx of fresh faces, a number of their most experienced names have been left out.

The team will be without three of their most distinguished Ryder Cup players, with Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood all playing no part in Europe's clash with their American rivals. This comes after all three opted to resign their DP World Tour memberships earlier this year after being sanctioned for their decision to join the LIV Golf setup.

The last time a European Ryder Cup team sheet did not include the name Garcia, Poulter or Westwood came way back in 1995 as the United States played host at Oak Hill.

28 years on though the Europeans are embarking on a new era, a change McGinley believes was a must following the recent record-breaking defeat to the Americans at Whistling Straits two years ago. Quizzed on the revamped European team, the 2014 captain told Mirror Sport: "It has come at the right time. There is no doubt we were an ageing team at Whistling Straits two years ago when we lost in record-breaking fashion."

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Whether Garcia and co would have earned a place in the 12-man team if eligible remains to be seen, with the three LIV stars no doubt closer to the end of their playing days than the start. Regardless, the trio would have been shoe-ins as vice-captains if not selected as players, and would have been guarantees for the captaincy later down the line following their contributions over the past two decades.

Whilst it seemed as if they had cut all ties with the Ryder Cup - and DP World Tour - earlier this year their future involvement in the event was given a glimmer of hope following recent peace talks between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and their now former Saudi rivals. With an agreement set to be finalised by the end of the year, it is expected that LIV players will be able to reapply for Tour membership, which would, of course, allow returning to the Ryder Cup setup.

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And despite the animosity in recent months, this is a return McGinley would be open to seeing. "I am not averse to it [LIV players returning], but I don't want to preempt what is going to happen," he added. "The game has been in turmoil, there are a lot of heavy negotiations going on. I don't want to be in a position to preempt it of what could or could not happen, but I think all things are on the table, absolutely."

Following the exodus of Garcia, Poulter and Westwood, Europe have turned to a number of the continent's rising stars to fill their Ryder Cup boots, and one man in particular is gaining more attention than most. That man is Ludvig Aberg, who has burst onto the scene in recent months to secure what was initially thought to be an unlikely spot in Donald's team.

The Swede only made the decision to turn professional in June, and since then he has not looked back. After beginning to make a name for himself on the PGA Tour, Aberg headed to his native Europe in hunt of a Ryder Cup spot, and this came after securing his maiden victory in just his second start as a professional on the DP World Tour at this month's Omega European Masters.

Ludvig Aberg has burst onto the scene in recent months (Getty Images)

The youngster could not have timed his win much better, with it coming just 24 hours before Donald confirmed his captain's picks. Despite his late showing though, McGinley revealed Aberg had been on the radar of the Team Europe setup for some time. This guy has been tracked," the Irishman said.

"When Luke got the job he was tracking all sorts of players coming through on the DP World Tour but was also tracking amateurs too, and guys who could potentially be turning professional before the Ryder Cup. This guy was highlighted by his backroom stats team. They followed him as an amateur, his stats were phenomenal, his record was phenomenal.

"They followed him closely in Dubai as an amateur this year with the DP World Tour giving him an invite because we were keen to see him. It isn’t by chance this guy has come up. To the wider public it might be ‘where has this guy come from?’ But to Luke and his team this guy has been on the radar for a year at least."

Watch the Solheim Cup from 18 September, and the Ryder Cup from 29 September live on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Golf, and NOW.

Joshua Lees