Getting to know: Paul McGinley

• By Golf Channel Digital
• Jan 15, 2013 1:48 PM ET

Paul McGinley was chosen as the European captain for the 2014 Ryder Cup, it was announced Tuesday.

Although some had suggested that Europe needed a stronger presence in the captain's role than McGinley, in order to counteract the United States' appointment of Tom Watson, a check of the numbers shows McGinley appears to have plenty to offer.

Images: Paul McGinley through the years

As a three-time Ryder Cup competitor, he owned a strangely level 2-2-5 record, but played for the winning side each time.

McGinley also competed in the Royal Trophy and Seve Trophy twice each as a player, winning every time.

He also served in the role of Seve Trophy captain twice, leading his team to victory both times.

And he was a Ryder Cup assistant in each of the last two editions of the event, part of two victorious squads.

Add 'em all up and that's an 11-0 record for McGinley in team competitions.

Here are some facts and figures to get better acquainted with the soft-spoken Irishman:

Age: 46 (will be 47 when 2014 Ryder Cup begins)

Born: Dublin, Ireland

Residence: Sunningdale, England

Ryder Cup participation: 2002 (won), 2004 (won) and 2006 (won) as a player; 2010 (won) and 2012 (won) as a vice-captain

Individual Ryder Cup playing record: 2-2-5 (0-1-2 in 2002, 2-0-1 in 2004, 0-1-2 in 2006)

Best finish in a major: T-6, 2004 PGA Championship

• McGinley becomes the first Irish-born captain for the European squad, and only the fourth captain from outside the United Kingdom (Olazabal 2012, Bernhard Langer 2004, Seve Ballesteros 1997).

• Having played in only nine career Ryder Cup matches, he has the least amount of experience of any European captain since John Jacobs led the squad in 1979 and 1981, having played in only two career matches.

• McGinley is now the fifth player to be named European captain despite never having won a major, joining Bernard Gallacher (1991-1995), Mark James (1999), Sam Torrance (2002) and Colin Montgomerie (2010).

• McGinley's top individual Ryder Cup moment came in his first appearance in 2002, when his putt to halve his singles match with Jim Furyk on Sunday clinched the Cup for the Team Europe.