Paul McGinley knows he will have to move quickly if he is to realise his ambition of adding to his Ryder Cup heroics.
The golfer who sank the putt that decided the fate of the 2002 match against USA is still about 300,000E short of qualifying for Bernhard Langer’s team.
Paul’s superb third round at the Irish Open not only moved him 63 places in the field, but also proved that he still has what it takes to continue where he left off so memorably at The Belfry two years ago.
Unfortunately, his fifth place in the Irish Open only moved him to 102 in the world rankings so he still has a bit of work to do this week or next if he is to get into the US PGA field.
Graeme McDowell’s own Ryder Cup chances are similarly poised after he finished 11th, a performance in front of home fans that enabled him to atone for the missed cut at The European Open.
Paul and Graeme are not the only players searching for that big finish that will propel them on to the big stage because several others are finding it tough to earn the few extra quid that will take them into the team. Ryder Cupitis is one of the most difficult golfing afflictions to control and there may well be a few more twists before the final chapter is written.
The JJB Sports Challenge Tour event at Marriott Worsley Park was a huge success in every possible way and the course, as we have become accustomed to seeing from Marriott managed properties, was in excellent condition.
Finally, many congratulations to our cricketers who performed so memorably at Lord’s to claim the first Test against the West Indies. It was great to see Michael Vaughan back to his best with a century in each innings, but I must make special mention of another of our players, Freddie Flintoff.
It is hard to imagine another British sportsman giving the crowd as much pleasure as he does these days. When he came out for his second innings, he received a magnificent ovation and promptly repaid it by walloping 58 off 42 balls. Freddie is some player… and he is going to get better.
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