Boost for McGinley's Ryder Cup prospects

PAUL McGINLEY gave his Ryder Cup team prospects a huge boost at Whistling Straits yesterday when he shot a closing round of 69 in the US PGA Championship for a six under par total of 282.

Having got himself to six under par with an outward nine of 32 on Saturday, only to slip back to three under at the end of the day, McGinley could have been excused if he became just a little downhearted.

But instead he came out fighting again yesterday and was well entitled to feel "chuffed and proud" at shooting such a low round over an extremely difficult golf course. From here he moves on to the $6.75 million NEC World Championship beginning in Akron, Ohio, on Thursday and from there to the decisive BMW International in Munich a week later. Having also finished second in the recent Dutch Open and in the top ten in the Irish Open at Baltray, his current form surely entitles him to serious consideration for one of Bernhard Langer's two "wild cards" if he fails to gain an automatic place.