The Ryder Cup race gets under way

Paul McGinley, the 2014 Ryder Cup captain, struck the first shot of the race for Gleneagles when he played in the opening group in the ISPS Handa Wales Open at The Celtic Manor Resort alongside 2012 Challenge Tour Number One Espen Kofstad and 2012 Qualifying School winner John Parry.

Ryder Cup Director Richard Hills was present to watch the three players tee it off as the qualifying period for the nine automatic spots on the European team began. The race ends on August 31 2014 before McGinley selects three wildcards for Europe’s title defence at The Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire.

<div>Scroll to the start of the Live Blog to see McGinley's opening effort.
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