European captain Paul McGinley hopes The 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles is even better than the previous two thrilling contests in Wales and Chicago.
Europe won by a point at The Celtic Manor in 2010 after a thrilling final day charge by the United States, and then triumphed by the same margin two years later at Medinah Country Club having been 10-6 down heading into the Sunday singles matches.
Speaking to the media at the US PGA Championship, McGinley said: “I think we are in for a very exciting Ryder Cup. It's an incredible tournament. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better after Wales, coming down to the last match on the course on the last day, you see what happened at Medinah, and that was just absolutely, in terms of sport, as good as it gets.
“So hopefully we can go some way to matching that at Gleneagles, because that was special.”
The race to qualify for McGinley’s team begins at next month’s ISPS Handa Wales Open, and the Irishman is excited to see his team start to take shape.
However, having represented Europe three times in his playing career, he knows it is not imperative to make a good start to the points race.
“It's important but it's not essential,” McGinley said. “I made three teams and one of them I had made by Christmas, but one I made the very last week.
“To be honest, if you ask me which way I'd prefer to make the team, the one where it was the last week was better, because I was coming into form at the right time. The start is important but it's not essential.
“If I had a choice, I would love to see everybody playing great in the last two months of qualifying, so as we are on a high going into The Ryder Cup.
“I'm going to wish everybody the best of luck, and in my own head I want to treat everybody on a level playing pitch.”
Earlier in the day USA captain Tom Watson said his message to hopeful players was simple.
"My advice is that I hate to lose and I hope you hate to lose more than I hate to lose," he said. "We're going to go out there with a purpose.
Losing after a four-point lead tears you up. I still feel like I have a little ownership in that because I played on the team. I understand what the players are going through.”
