He is a regular face on TV screens as a pundit on both sides of the Atlantic and signed up as an ambassador for the Legends Tour last year. Paul’s Foundation also hosted the 2022 Irish Legends tournament.
Growing up in Dublin, McGinley had hopes of becoming a professional Gaelic footballer rather than a golfer before a knee injury forced his decision. However, his decision to take to the links was no mistake – a four-time winner on the DP World Tour, six other victories worldwide including the 1997 World Cup of Golf alongside Padraig Harrington and, perhaps the role for which he has become most known, a Ryder Cup great – as a player and captain.
McGinley would hole the winning putt from ten feet at The Belfry in 1992 and the images of him celebrating in the lake with an Irish tricolour around his shoulders are iconic.
Two more winning European team appearances followed for McGinley as a player, as well as that of vice-captain in 2010 and 2012, but it is his role as a winning Ryder Cup captain at Gleneagles in 2014 which has earned him the greatest accolades. His attention to detail, statistical analysis and man-management skills saw him tagged as the man who designed the blueprint for European success in the Ryder Cup. He was a leader unrivalled in preparation for golf’s biggest team event.
In 2016 Paul led the Irish golf team in their quest for medals at the Olympic Games in Rio.
Since then he has combined playing golf with being a member of the European Tour’s Tournament Committee and Board of Directors as well as being one of the leading analysts for Sky Sports and NBC/Golf Channel in their coverage of the Ryder Cup, PGA Tour and European Tour.