Victorious European captain Paul McGinley insists his involvement in the Ryder Cup was at an end, saying that like a good heavyweight boxing champion he wanted to quit with an undefeated record.
The Irishman, who led his side to a convincing 16 1/2 points to 11 1/2 win over the United States in the biennial contest following three days of competition at Scotland's Gleneagles course on Sunday, was widely praised for his work by European team members.
But while McGinley's vice-captains included a former European captain in Sam Torrance, McGinley ruled himself out of both that role and leading the team again come the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine in Chaska, Minnesota.
"I don't think I'd be vice-captain to anybody going forward to be honest," said the 47-year-old on Monday.
"I'm very happy to help in an unofficial capacity but I don't think I have the personality to go back in as vice-captain.
"I would like to be able to support the new captain in whatever direction he went, and if I had a belief about a different area, I'm afraid there would be a conflict."
McGinley then made it clear a Ryder Cup career encompassing three wins as a player (2002, 2004 and 2006), two as a vice-captain (2010 and 2012) and one as captain was at an end.
"That's six I have been involved in and six wins," he said. "Like a heavyweight fighter, I will retire undefeated."
However, McGinley did not rule out the possibility of an unofficial role, similarly to the motivational one he asked former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson to play by addressing the team on Tuesday
"I would certainly like to play a role, if required, a little bit like Alex Ferguson did this week for me," he added.
"I bounced ideas off him. He didn't preach to me. He didn't tell me what to do, but what he did was he solidified my ideas and he gave me confidence that, yeah, my hunches were right."
"I certainly won't be pushing myself forward (but) whoever the next captain may be, if he has any questions, I'll help in any single way I can."
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