Biography

Paul McGinley

Paul is also an avid Glasgow Celtic fan as well as supporting the Dublin Gaelic and Hurling teams. He will always be remembered as the man who holed the winning putt in The 34th Ryder Cup at The Belfry. His 10-footer on the 18th green secured a half with Jim Furyk and with it the famous trophy for Captain Sam Torrance's team. However, he drew almost as much praise for the way he battled throughout the season to get into the 2004 Team, proving once again to be a valuable member as he won two and a half points out of three for Bernhard Langer's side, including a final day singles victory over Stewart Cink.

Posted eight top ten finishes in 2004 on his way to 22nd place on the Volvo Order of Merit, including two second places, firstly behind Mark O'Meara in the Dubai Desert Classic, and secondly behind David Lynn in The KLM Open. But perhaps his best performance of the year came in the final Ryder Cup counting event, the BMW International Open, where he finished in a tie for sixth place to guarantee his ticket to Detroit.

First sporting love as a child was Gaelic football, but concentrated on golf after suffering a broken left knee cap at the age of 19. Played in 1991 Walker Cup - helping Liam White beat Phil Mickelson and Bob May - then gained his card at first visit to Qualifying School that year. Won the World Cup for Ireland at Kiawah Island in November 1997 with Padraig Harrington. Built an extensive gymnasium in one of his garages and spent early part of 1999 getting fitter with the help of former European Tour Physiologist Jonathan Shrewsbury. Captured his third European Tour title and first since 1997 by winning the rain-affected 2001 Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open at the fifth hole of a sudden-death play-off after the tournament was reduced to 36 holes - a win which elevated him into The European Ryder Cup Team and paved the way for that dramatic moment on September 29, 2002. Linked up with coach Bob Torrance in 2002.

European Tour

3 - 1996 Hohe Brucke Open, 1997 Oki Pro-am, 2001 The Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open

Other

1988 Irish Youths Championship, Scottish Youths Championship,
1989 Irish Amateur Championship,
1991 UAP Under-25s Championship 

1992 PGA European Tour Summary

Tournaments entered - 26; in money - 14; Top-10 finishes - 1; scoring average 72.46 (ranked T-92nd); money £46,268 (ranked 97th); best finish, T-6th, Monte Carlo Open.

1993 PGA European Tour Summary

Tournaments entered - 28; in money - 20; Top-10 finishes - 4; scoring average 72.17 (ranked T-59th); money £199,780 (ranked 38th); best finish T-2nd Open V33 du Grand Lyon and 2nd Peugeot open de France. 

1994 PGA European Tour Summary

Tournaments entered - 26; in money - 19; Top-10 finishes - 2; scoring average 71.99 (ranked 63rd); money £146,090 (ranked 46th); best finish 2nd, Turespana Open Mediterrania.

1995 PGA European Tour Summary

Tournaments entered - 27; in money - 16; Top-10 finishes - 3; scoring average 71.92 (ranked 34th); money 124,013 (ranked 52nd); best finish T-3rd, Turespana Open Andalucia.

1996 PGA European Tour Summary

Tournaments entered - 28; in money - 23; Top-10 finishes - 5; scoring average 71.26 (ranked 9th); money £295,664 (ranked 15th); winner, Hohe Brucke Open.

1997 PGA European Tour Summary

Tournaments entered - 26; in money - 21; Top-10 finishes - 4; scoring average - 71.04 (ranked T22nd); money £220,278 (ranked 21st); winner Oki Pro-am.

1998 PGA European Tour Summary

Tournaments entered - 25; in money - 18; Top-10 finishes - 3; scoring average - 70.88 (ranked 14th); money £201,970 (ranked 30th); best finish T3rd, Turespana Masters.

1999 PGA European Tour Summary

Tournaments entered - 26; in money - 21; top-10 finishes - 4; scoring average 71.43 (ranked T35th); money ?295,126 or £210,804 (ranked 37th); best finish T2nd, Peugeot Open de Espana.

2000 PGA European Tour Summary

Tournaments entered - 26; in money - 23; top-10 finishes - 8; scoring average 70.97 (ranked 17th); money ?769,088 or £457,396 (ranked 18th); best finish T2nd, Dubai Desert Classic.

2000 PGA Tour Summary

Tournaments entered - 4; rounds played - 14 ; in money - 3; top-10 finishes - 0; best finish T20th at the British Open.

2001 PGA European Tour Summary

Tournaments entered - 25; in money - 24; top-10 finishes - 12; scoring average 69.82 (ranked T5th); money ?1,464,434 or £910,525 (ranked 8th); winner The Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open.

2001 PGA Tour Summary

Tournaments entered - 4; rounds played - 12 ; in money - 4; top-10 finishes - 0; money $133,078 (ranked 208-unofficial); best finish T-22nd at the PGA Championship. 

2002 PGA European Tour Summary

Tournaments entered - 22; in money - 17; top-10 finishes - 2; scoring average 71.76 (ranked 82nd); money ?401,598 or £256,064 (ranked 58th); best finish, T5th, Dunhill Championship.

2002 PGA Tour Summary

Tournaments entered - 10; rounds played - 26 ; in money - 5; top-10 finishes - 0; money $203,573 (ranked 174th - unofficial); best finish T-17 at the Accenture Match Play Championship.

2003 PGA European Tour Summary

Tournaments entered - 27; in money - 19; top-10 finishes - 3; scoring average 71.02 (ranked 27th); money ?637,522 or £444,486 (ranked 33rd); best finish, 2nd Trophee Lancome.

2003 PGA Tour Summary

Played in three PGA Tour events in 2003, T28th British Open, Cut at PGA Championship and T58th at NEC Invitational.

2004 PGA European Tour Summary

Tournaments entered - 26; in money - 19; top-10 finishes - 8; scoring average 70.97 (ranked 19th); money ?967,660 or £669,161 (ranked 22nd); best finish, 2nd Dubai Desert Classic & T2nd KLM Open 

2004 PGA Tour Summary

Played in five PGA Tour events in 2004, best finish T6th, PGA Championship.

European Tour wins

1996 - Hohe Brucke Open
1997 - Oki Pro-Am
2001 - The Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open 2005 - Volvo Masters

Other wins

Amateur:

1988 Irish Youths Championship, Scottish Youths Championship
1989 Irish Amateur Championship

Professional:

1997 Irish PGA Championship
2000 Irish PGA Championship
2002 Smurfit Irish PGA Championship 2003 Smurfit Irish PGA Championship 

Team appearances

Walker Cup (amateur, representing Great Britain & Ireland): 1991
Ryder Cup (representing Europe): 2002 (winners), 2004 (winners)
Alfred Dunhill Cup (representing Ireland): 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
World Cup (representing Ireland): 1993, 1994, 1997 (winners), 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
The Seve Trophy (representing Great Britain & Ireland) 2002 (winners), 2005 (winners)

Reference:

http://www.pga.com/pgachampionship/2005/scoring/profiles/12461.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_McGinley