20 QUESTIONS
Paul Mcginley on his love for U2 and Chris Evert... and why he’d pick Hitler’s brain
1 When you first broke par? I was 16 at Lahinch, on the second course – the Castle. It was a par 70 and I shot a 69.
2 Highlight of your career so far? Holing the winning putt in the 2002 Ryder Cup. Captaining in 2014 is pretty close.
3 Best shot to date? The putt in 2002 again. If I had missed it, I wouldn’t be sitting here for starters…
4 One mulligan you could have? My tee shot on 17 at the Open Mediterrania in Spain. I hit it left, made double bogey then got beat in a play-off by Olazabal. He won the 1994 Masters three weeks later.
5 Favourite course worldwide? Augusta. Everything they say about it is right – the perfection of the grass, the way it is presented. The ambience makes you feel you are somewhere special. I knew the back nine inside out so when I first played a practice round there I turned up just when the gates opened and headed straight for the back nine. I just couldn’t wait.
6 Favourite course outside the USA? Royal Portrush. It’s got the balance right. It gives you chances to make birdies but there are also holes where you can slip up.
7 Favourite hole? The 18th at Pebble Beach. It’s a real riskreward with the Pacific Ocean on the left.
8 Best view in golf? The view from the 17th fairway at St Andrews – the green, the road behind it, the road hole bunker, all the grey buildings and the clubhouse on the left.
9 Favourite club in the bag? The driver. It’s been my big strength, hitting fairways and shaping the ball.
10 Favourite non-golf sports event? The All-ireland Gaelic final – a celebration of Irish culture with a special mood in the city. It’s just great to be Irish in Dublin on that day.
11 Favourite sports team? I’m a big West Ham fan and Glasgow Celtic.
12 Sportsman you look up to or admire? Trevor Brooking. He was such a big part of the West Ham team growing up in the 1980s. I loved his artistry and the way he would link up with Kevin Keegan for England. In a golfing sense, it was Tom Watson.
13 And sportswoman? Chris Evert. I used to like her for a number of reasons, not just tennis!
14 All-time favourite movie? The Commitments. It’s set in Dublin, about a group of Irish people who form a band.
15 Not to be missed TV show? Porridge just beats Only Fools and Horses.
16 Favourite musician/band? U2 by a mile! I’ve seen every tour they have ever been on, back to the 1980s in Dublin.
17 Favourite holiday destination? Ireland! It’s a holiday for me when I go there.
18 Who would be in your dream foursome? Tough. I will go for great leaders – JFK, Gandhi and even Hitler. I know it’s not politically correct to say that, but I would be intrigued to listen to his mindset, how he viewed things, and justified what he did.
19 Best mate on Tour? Des Smith when I first joined. Darren Clarke, Padraig and Shane Lowry in the later years.
20 Your dream Tour fourball? Tom Watson, Ben Hogan and Tiger.
‘I turned up just when the gates opened and headed straight for the back nine’