Golfing star Paul McGinley has revealed how he would ‘die’ for Donegal manager Jim McGuinness.
The Dubliner, whose mum and dad come from Dunfanaghy and Rathmullan, is a huge GAA fan and was tipped to have a bright future in the game.
However he broke his kneecap at just 19 and was told he would never play at a higher standard.
The married father of three, 45, who says his ultimate ambition was to play for Dublin, met with he Donegal boss this week.
And McGinley revealed “I would die for him. That’s the way he leaves you. His outlook is inspirational. I have met a lot of people but he is certainly up there at the top.”
Paul, who spent all his summers in Donegal growing up, says he still regrets getting injured but revealed it was this unlucky break which led to his career in golf.
“I was playing senior football at just 16 and I was quite good and I would have loved to play for Dublin and I might have but for I broke my knee-cap.
“I am still a mad GAA fan and I try to watch it no matter where in the world I am. If I had a choice of any sport to watch, it would be GAA. I just love its passion,” he said.
McGinley revealed although he has made a great living out of playing golf, he rarely watches it.
“I don’t enjoy watching golf, in fact I don’t watch a lot of it. I get bored watching it,” he said.
McGinley admits there is a danger of becoming caught up in the celebrity lifestyle which he finds himself.
He revealed how he recently was invited to play golf with the King of Ghana and has also played with the King of Malaysia and the King of Morocco.
He says he loves coming home to Ireland to help him bring himself and his family back down to earth.
“You do expect a lot but that’s not a good trait. It’s great to come home to Ireland and even to go back to Donegal where my mother and father are from.
“I often think ‘how am I going to talk my kids into going back to Donegal?’ because they see and do so much.
“But we always try to teach them that manners are so important. I make a point of being grateful to people when they help me out. I respect people no matter what level of life they are at,” he said.
The Dubliner is a big Celtic fan, uses a Celtic towel when playing and often wears the colours of the Scottish club.
He admits he has paid for his devotion to the Glasgow side.
“The Rangers fans are not very fond of me even though that with ninety nine per cent of them it’s juts a bit of banter.
“I have had a few incidents in Scotland. The nastiest moments have been with the kids. They would often ask me for an autograph and then they would tear it up in front of me and call me a Fenian so and so.
“That’s just the way things are but you just get on with it,” he said.
Tags:
