McGinley is playing Ryder Cup catch-up

PAUL McGINLEY has travelled to this week’s BMW Asian Open in China admitting he is playing a game of Ryder Cup catch-up.

The Dubliner touched down yesterday in the world’s most populated country to tee up alongside Pádraig Harrington and Aussie Greg Norman in the co-sanctioned event starting Thursday in Shangai.

It is McGinley’s second visit to China but unlike his previous, just eight week’s after holing the winning 2002 Ryder Cup putt, this week his place in golf’s most prestigious tournament remains in doubt.

After finishing second in Dubai, McGinley was knocking on the door of another likely return to the European side but he’s since slumped down the rankings.

He missed three cuts in succession after losing out to Mark O’Meara and he then missed five weeks competition after undergoing surgery to correct his injured knee.

But in a timely morale boost last weekend, McGinley’s 14th place Forest of Arden result has lifted him back to 15th on the European qualifying table and earned him a first prize cheque in two months.

“There is no doubt I have lost a lot of Ryder Cup ground but I know what I have to do to get myself in the side and that’s to play well in the big tournaments and win one of them,” he said.

“That’s the bottom line and when I made the Ryder Cup the last time I had four six figure cheques and though I have had two this year already, I am going to need two more.

“But my British Masters effort was really amazing and I did really well considering that five weeks ago I was undergoing surgery.

“I had four good competitive walking rounds on a really tough golf course and though there was some swelling at the end of each day.

“I am really delighted how well I stood up to the test.

“I only started hitting balls last Thursday and even in the time I was off, I didn’t even hit a putt.

“It was a very serious injury. My fitness caused the injury but I have managed to recover so quickly as the toning in my legs was so strong,” he said.