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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2014 SPORTS Team matters most for skipper McGinley

EDINBURGH: Paul McGinley’s first love in the one thing I don’t want to do.” sports was Gaelic football and were it not McGinley’s rise to become the first Irish for a broken kneecap he sustained play- captain of Europe’s Ryder Cup side was ing that when he was 18, he would not something that came out of the blue almost certainly never have become when the decision was taken in Abu Europe’s Ryder Cup captain. Dhabi in January 2013. He was vice-cap- The injury, allied to his own small tain to Colin Montgomerie in Wales in stature, ruled out a career in the tough 2010 and to Jose Maria Olazabal two team sport so beloved of the Irish and years ago in Medinah and he also knew instead he turned to golf which until that his Seve Trophy exploits would not then had been more a pastime for the go unnoticed. Dubliner. A two-year golf scholarship in But still there were some raised eye- San Diego, where he once watched his brows that such a low-key and relatively hero Tom Watson play in a tournament unsung player had been chosen to go up and was given one of his golf gloves as a up against living legend Watson who the memento, followed and McGinley’s Americans asked to return to the role 31 career as a pro started in 1991. years after he performed it successfully Since then he has enjoyed modest at The Belfry. Once Darren Clarke had success with four European Tour wins, made himself unavailable, supporters of most notably at the season-ending Volvo Montgomerie, a Ryder Cup legend him- Masters in 2005, plus a fleeting appear- self, multiple European Tour champion ance in the world top 20. and a proud Scot to boot, made a case But the 47-year-old is better-known for his re-selection. for his exploits in the team version of the But with players such as fellow sport-winning the World Cup for Ireland Irishmen Rory McIlroy and Graeme alongside Padraig Harrington in 1997, McDowell taking his side, McGinley was the Ryder Cup for Europe in 2002, 2004 home and dry. McDowell for one and 2006 as well as success in the Seve believes that McGinley ticks all the right Trophy (as a player and captain) and the boxes for the job on hand. “Paul is going SINGAPORE: Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain drives during the qualifying session of the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix at the Royal Trophy in 2007 and 2007. McGinley to be a fantastic captain and I’ve said that Marina Bay Street circuit. —AFP believes it was his schoolboy years play- from day one,” said McDowell, who will ing Gaelic football that helped turn him make his fourth straight Ryder Cup into a Ryder Cup hero when he sunk the appearance for Europe at Gleneagles. Hamilton on pole in Singapore winning putt at The Belfry in 2002 and “He’s a great lad. He’s a scholar of that helped him get the 2014 Ryder Cup cap- methodology of management, captain- taincy he so craved. cy, leadership. He will do all the right SINGAPORE: A remarkably cool Lewis Hamilton he said. “It’s the most incredible feeling when “Street circuits keep you on your toes, but it was “The captaincy is something I am things, he will press all the right buttons. snatched a dramatic last-gasp pole position you do it on your last lap, with all the pressure certainly good fun. from his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg for and when the smallest mistake could lose you a “I have got a few mates here this weekend comfortable with,” he said in a recent “To me, he is going to personify the today’s Singapore Grand Prix with a phenomenal lot. and maybe some I don’t know about. It’s close to interview. “I like the role. I like the chal- right answer in the debate - Should the qualifying lap yesterday. The 29-year-old Briton “I made a mistake and locked up at the first home so it’s really nice to see a few Aussie flags lenge of behaving and doing the right emphasis be on golfing credentials or left it late, crossing the line after three rivals had corner and I was already two tenths down, but I and hopefully I can see a few more from the things. I like the challenge of behaving leadership qualities when it comes to in succession cut their times to take provisional said to myself let’s keep going and see what podium!” Behind the two Red Bulls, two-time and saying and doing the right things. being a Ryder Cup captain? What’s more pole to the raucous delight of the crowd as he happens. former champion Fernando Alonso qualified “Standing on a tee box and hitting a important?”Leadership qualities are the secured the prime starting position by just 0.007 “The previous lap wasn’t perfect either, I lost fifth for Ferrari ahead of Felipe Massa of Williams ball 300 yards down the middle has nev- most important thing. Look at Alex seconds-or less than the length of their time in 13 and 16, but I fixed that and got the and Kimi Raikkonen, who was seventh in the er come easy to me; standing over a five- Ferguson, someone like that. Leadership, Mercedes’ nose cones. time back and the last sector was pretty hard second Ferrari. foot putt and trying to hole it has never man management.” Rosberg, who leads him by 22 points in the core fast! On a tense and thrilling evening, Valtteri come easy to me; standing in front of the Gleneagles will tell whether the drivers’ championship with six races remaining, Bottas was eighth in the second Williams ahead media ... comes easier to me. choice of McGinley was an inspired one will start alongside him from second place after ‘FAIR PLAY TO LEWIS’ of Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen of McLaren “I’m just trying to be myself. I’m trying for Europe or whether a bigger name the Mercedes pairing grabbed their team’s sev- “It’s a great day for the team, but there is a lot and Daniil Kvyat for Toro Rosso. to be honest. I’m not relling a lie. That’s would have been better.—AFP enth one-two of the year. It was Hamilton’s third to do tomorrow.” Rosberg was understandably After the usual suspectsw had dropped out in pole in Singapore, his sixth this season and the amazed and exasperated. “If I think back over the Q1, Alonso and then Hamilton set the pace in Q2 37th of his career. lap, seven thousandths of a second is nothing - a as Ferrari continued to flex their new-found Rosberg’s reaction was pithy, but understand- little bit here or there and I could have done it,” muscle before a late Rosberg lap lifted him top able when he was given the news on team radio: he said. But Lewis did a good job today so fair by nearly half a second. Jenson Button missed “Dammit!” But, after an intriguing session, there play to him. “Second place, it is OK. Sure first is out on the top ten shootout, finishing 11th for was none of the acrimony that has punctuated better, but it’s a long race ahead, so that’s fine.” McLaren ahead of job-hunting Jean-Eric Vergne their duel for glory this year. Australian Daniel Ricciardo delighted many of of Toro Rosso, the two Force Indias, Esteban Hamilton, who is putting Rosberg under pres- his compatriots packed into the Marina Bay Gutierrez of Sauber and Romain Grosjean, who sure with his speed in recent races, raised a fist street circuit by claiming third on the grid for was 16th in his Renault. For Button, it signalled to celebrate in his car, but stayed calm after the Red Bull ahead of his team-mate and defending that he had been out-qualified 8-6 by session. In torrid conditions, he is handling the four-time champion Sebastian Vettel, winner of Magnussen this year while for Grosjean, a front- heat. the last three Singapore races. runner last year, frustration boiled over. “I cannot “I knew I had the pace, but it was just about “It was good fun out there and the track was believe it, bloody engine, bloody engine,” he putting the sectors together which is not easy,” improving as qualifying went on,” said Ricciardo. complained. —AFP Toulouse in crisis after fourth successive loss PARIS: Ailing four-time European champions Toulouse slipped to their fourth successive defeat yesterday losing 27-16 at Racing-Metro despite Vincent Clerc scoring the 86th try of his career giving them the lead briefly in the second- half. Clerc’s try-which puts him third on the all-time French league try scorers list two behind Clermont skipper Aurelien Rougerie and 15 behind the retired Laurent Arbo-converted by Toby Flood in the second-half was answered by two from the hosts. Victory sees Racing go third two points adrift of leaders Toulon, who thrashed 14 man Brive 53-13 on Friday, although the standings can change later Tom Watson plays a shot in this file photo. with Clermont and Stade Francais capable of tak- ing over at the top should they beat Lyon at home and Montpellier away respectively. Watson seeks Ryder Toulouse, who came into the match on their worst losing run for 36 years, for their part are nine points adrift of Toulon having played six matches. Cup redemption “We lost our focus,” said Toulouse flanker .”We are going through a bad EDINBURGH: Tom Watson, the oldest And Watson confronts the age ques- patch and we need to work really hard because captain in Ryder Cup history at age 65, tion by citing the experience he has with there are lots of things that we are just not doing will serve as an inspirational leader for a winning in Europe. “To have that respect right.” Racing and Toulouse kickers Maxime FRANCE: Toulouse’s New Zealand hooker Corey Flynn (center) holds the ball during the French United States golf team seeking redemp- and the trust from the players that we Top 14 match between Racing Metro 92 and Toulouse. —AFP tion at this year’s Ryder Cup. know what’s going on, can help them, Machenaud and Flood slotted over two penalties Watson, who came within a shot of a the age difference actually it’s kind of like apiece to have the sides level on the quarter hour penalty from an earlier infraction at the scrum and Machenaud stole the ball from a Toulouse scrum stunning triumph at age 59 in the 2009 a professor,” Watson said. “You go to learn mark. Machenaud converted to give Racing a 15-9 half- deep inside the visitors 22 and it resulted in time advantage. Chavancey bundling over from a few metres out- British Open at Turnberry, captained the from a professor. He’s been there. He Machenaud, who had the kicking duties in the absence of injured Irish star Jonny Sexton, restored Toulouse came out with the bit between their Machenaud added the conversion for a 22-16 lead most recent US Ryder Cup victory on knows. He has the experience. He has the Racing’s slight advantage with another penalty. teeth in the second-half and with the wind behind to the hosts. European soil in 1993. knowledge.” Machenaud, in competition with them they took the lead for the first time in the The visitors chances of retrieving something US player Jordan Spieth was two One thing Watson knows is Scotland, and South African-born Rory Kockott for a spot in match six minutes into the second period with a from the match receded further in the 58th minute months old when Watson guided the a land he loves and whose fans love him. Philippe Saint-Andre’s French squad, slotted over fine try by Clerc. Keeping the ball alive through a when Kiwi prop Neemia Tialata was sin-binned for Americans to that victory at the Belfry in Expect Watson to receive cheers even as another penalty six minutes from half-time. Racing succession of passes involving Nyanga, Yoann using his arm in a tackle and two minutes later England. But the Americans have lost the American team will face spectators crossed the line in the final minute of the first-half Huget and Gael Fickou the ball came to Clerc and Racing added their second try. It was a collective seven of the nine trophy matchups with who are clearly against them. with a lovely passing movement which saw winger despite his 33 years he found the acceleration effort from the Racing pack resulting in replace- Europe since then, including a 14 1/2-13 “I love it there. I love the way they love Teddy Thomas touch down but it was ruled out for required to breeze inside Thomas and touchdown. ment hooker Virgile Lacombe being credited for it 1/2 heartbreaker at Medinah in 2012 the game,” Watson says of Scotland. “The obstruction on Toulouse skipper . Flood converted for 16-15. just minutes after replacing who thanks to a last-day singles rally by the Scottish people, they are knowledgeable. However, the referee awarded the hosts a However, their lead lasted just seven minutes as had a problem with his left knee.—AFP visitors. Watson will try to fan the flames They understand the game and of course of that frustration into motivation when they are going to be very partisan. We the US team, including seven members know that.” Trott denies Johnson caused Ashes exit of the 2012 lineup, tries to reclaim the PGA of America president Ted Bishop Cup next week at Gleneagles, Scotland. says Watson has made an impression LONDON: England batsman Jonathan Trott insist- Test in Brisbane, England officials said he was suf- Brisbane match although he subsequently “My job as a captain is to inspire them if I upon his players in the past year. “What ed yesterday that Australia fast bowler Mitchell fering from a “stress-related illness”. returned to county duty with Warwickshire, can and the motivation is there, I can tell has impressed me more than anything Johnson was not responsible for his early exit from However, South Africa-born batsman Trott later although a recurrence of the illness in April led to you without hesitation,” Watson said. has been the effort that Tom has made to England’s Ashes tour as he criticised Michael told Sky television he’d been “burnt out” but was another break from cricket. But since coming back “That was a hard loss for the American get to know the players, play with the Vaughan’s reaction to his health problems. not depressed. That prompted Vaughan, England again with the Midlands county in June, Trott has players and it still sticks with a lot of players,” Bishop said. When Trott quit what turned out to be a 5-0 captain from 2003-2008, to write in his Daily been in fine form for Warwickshire with four cen- them. They want to make amends for “At times he’s beaten some of our Ashes thrashing by Australia after twice falling Telegraph column in March that he felt “conned” turies-two each in the County Championship and what happened at Medinah two years players at these events. But I think that cheaply to fast bowler Mitchell Johnson in the first because he thought Trott’s comments in the inter- the 50-over One Day Cup. After his second break ago. “It left a pit in my stomach, just a gives him a great amount of credibility view were a sign he’d been struggling for cricketing from cricket, Vaughan wished Trott a speedy recov- hole in my stomach, after our defeat at with the players and we are certainly reasons, not mental health ones. ery but the way in which he initially responded had Medinah,” Watson said. “I don’t think very confident of his ability to lead our However, in an interview with yesterday’s Daily left its mark. there’s going to be much motivation team.” Mail, Trott said: “A lot of people said it was Mitchell necessary, maybe just a word or two Watson was on a hunting trip when Johnson but it really wasn’t. It was what was going Vaughan comments on with me; self-inflicted really.”Give him (Johnson) “There were a few people who had a go at me about we don’t want this to happen Bishop called and had him call back later credit. and I suppose it gives a true reflection of their per- again will maybe carry them over the that same day.”I was waiting for about 20 He bowled really well in the one-day series and sonality,” Trott said. “I guess there will always be hump and they may make a few more years to get the call,” Watson said. Tests...I’ve actually had a few centuries against people who don’t like you...But it was quite hard to putts when they need to.” Watson, who ranks sixth on the all-time Johnson, so I wouldn’t say it’s a technique issue. take, from someone who had played in the Watson, an eight-time major champi- major win list, won the 1977 and 1981 “But without digging deeper and finding out England team. That’s the measure of the person on and five-time British Open winner, will Masters, the 1982 US Open and the what’s going on, that’s what people focus on,” you are dealing with I suppose.” Reflecting on his surpass the Ryder Cup captaincy age British Open in 1975, 1977, 1980, 1982 added Trott, who in 49 Tests has scored 3,763 runs state of mind when he first took time out, Trott mark of John Henry Taylor, who led the and 1983. He was elected to the World including nine hundreds at an average of 46.75. said: “I wasn’t sure if I wanted to play cricket any British side to victory in 1933 at age 62. Golf Hall of Fame in 1988.—AFP Jonathan Trott celebrates in this file photo. Trott, 33, has not played for England since the more. It became a relief to be away from it.”—AFP