Paul McGinley, the four-time European Tour champion and victorious Ryder Cup Captain at Gleneagles in 2014, has agreed to join the Board of the European Tour as Non-Executive Director with immediate effect.
The 49 year old Irishman will bring a wealth of golfing knowledge and experience to the table, having been a professional on the European Tour since 1992, as well as a highly respected member of the European Tour Tournament Committee since 2003.
But he will also bring business acumen having obtained a Degree in International Business in his formative years, as well as being an Executive Fellow of the London Business School Leadership Institute, having been afforded the accolade in February of this year.
McGinley said: “At the invitation of Chairman David Williams I have attended the last three Board Meetings in an observational capacity and I have to say I found it an energetic and energising environment.
“I have always enjoyed the business element of sport but it has been a learning curve for me over these meetings to see how a fully functioning Board is structured and how it deals with the wide variety of matters and issues raised.
“I have a lot of business interests in my life at the moment but I am delighted to be able to add this to it. I have enjoyed seeing the many successes the European Tour has enjoyed over the past 20 years and I hope to be able to play a small part in helping shape many more successes in the years to come.”
David Williams, Chairman of the European Tour, said: “I am delighted to be able to welcome Paul to our Board. He brings a unique perspective as both a leader and a businessman and there is always a place at the table for people such as Paul who offer such insight and intellect on a wide range of topics.
“In addition, and crucially, he is also a current player on our Tour and is, therefore, particularly able to represent the European Tour members at the Boardroom table.”
On the course, McGinley’s biggest European Tour triumph came when he won the season-ending Volvo Masters at Valderrama in 2005, a victory which helped him attain his highest career ranking of third on the Order of Merit.
Off the course, the Dubliner’s leadership skills were honed as a two time winning captain of the Great Britain and Ireland Seve Trophy teams in 2009 and 2011, qualities which resurfaced in emphatic style at Gleneagles two years ago, where he masterminded Europe’s 16 ½ – 11 ½ Ryder Cup victory over the Tom Watson-led United States of America.
