Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley has entered a two-year partnership to become a Sky Sports ambassador and join the on-air commentary team. The agreement is aligned to Paul's role as the 2014 European Ryder Cup Captain and will see him join the Sky Sports golf team at selected events over the next two years, to include this week's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. In his role as a Sky Sports ambassador, Paul will wear Sky Sports HD branding on his clothing at all Tour events and competitions as he prepares for the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.
He will also promote the Sky Sports Living for Sport initiative which supports grassroots sport and encourages participation. "Sky Sports have been huge for golf and to have their support for the next two years is fantastic. I enjoy commentating and I look forward to sharing my views on the game." McGinley said: "It is great to partner with Sky Sports and presents the perfect opportunity for me to embrace this role in parallel with my Ryder Cup captaincy. "They have been huge for golf and to have their support for the next two years is fantastic. I enjoy commentating and I look forward to sharing my views on the game.
"Crucially, the role also allows me to maintain close contact with all the players vying for places on the team, especially during the Major Championships and the World Golf Championships in the United States." Jason Wessely, Sky Sports' Executive Producer of Golf, said: "It's great to have Europe's Ryder Cup Captain with us throughout the next two years as we build towards golf's biggest event. Sky Sports viewers will have the inside track not only on the Ryder Cup but also the European Tour."
Paul joined the European Tour in 1992 and has since played more than 500 events. He achieved his place in golfing folklore by holing the winning putt on his Ryder Cup debut in 2002 and also went on to represent Europe in 2004 and 2006, making him the first European golfer to win each of his first three appearances. Having played an instrumental role as a Vice Captain at The 2010 and 2012 Ryder Cup victories, in January 2013 Paul was confirmed as Captain of the European Team for the 2014 match at Gleneagles, becoming the first Irishman to perform the role.
This year, Sky Sports viewers can enjoy more live golf than ever before with more than 200 tournaments from five continents including three Major Championships and exclusive live coverage of the European and PGA Tours. Sky Sports also offers unrivalled coverage of the ladies game, showing three Majors plus every day of the Solheim Cup exclusively live.
In addition to our unrivalled golf coverage, this year Sky Sports viewers can enjoy the biggest summer of sport ever with The British & Irish Lions Tour, back-to-back Ashes Series, Barclays Premier League football, the ICC Champions Trophy, every race live in the F1 season, Super League and Andy Murray defending his US Open title.