Professional golfer Paul McGinley has called on women struggling to secure top positions in business to "keep networking".

The Dubliner drew parallels between the obstacles they face and how he managed to come "from the back of the pack" to captain Europe to Ryder Cup glory two years ago. 

Speaking at an event held as part of Investec's Women in Leadership programme yesterday, he recalled how he used his networking skills to beat better-known, major-winning rivals to the captaincy.

McGinley said he acted "politically" to "manoeuvre" himself into a strong position to be picked, the Irish Times reports.

This involved briefing media off the record, joining players' committees and captaining the British and Irish team for the Seve Trophy.

He suggested women would have to go to similar lengths to get ahead,  noting the "huge attrition rate" as they climb the business ladder.

"Some of those issues can be fixed through communicating well, networking and being political," he said.

"You have to keep networking, use sounding boards and put yourself in a strong position."

Investec's head of treasury, Aisling Dodgson, recommended ambitious women go so far as to take up sport.

She said:

"There is clear evidence of a positive relationship between participation in sport and physical activity on one hand and professional and academic achievement for women and girls, on the other."

Dodgson credited the increasing number of events focussed on female business leaders with helping to "raise the profile" of female managers.