Valderrama magic wins McGinley shot of the month

PAUL McGINLEY has been named as winner of the RBS Shot of the Month Award for October following his superb victory in the season-ending Volvo Masters at Club de Golf Valderrama in Spain.

He collects the RBS Shot of the Month trophy and a cheque for £1,000 (€1,500) to donate to his chosen charity CLIC (Cancer and Leukaemia in Children), of which his close friend Eddie Jordan and Gary Lineker are patrons.

McGinley’s brilliantly executed 112 yard sand wedge at Valderrama’s treacherous 17th hole set up the birdie four which effectively secured the biggest and most important individual success of the Dubliner’s career.

McGinley’s excellent stroke is the last in an impressive list of monthly contenders for the RBS Shot of the Year Award.

He said: “It was unquestionably the shot which won the Volvo Masters for me. My caddie and I reckoned that I was probably one ahead of Sergio [Garcia] so I decided to lay up.

“Everyone who knows Valderrama is aware of the danger lurking around the 17th green. My distance control had to be absolutely spot on. I couldn’t afford to be short and spin back into the water, or too long and have an impossible downhill fourth shot. Fortunately, I got it exactly right and felt very relieved to see the ball close to the hole.”

He added: “I would like to donate this award to CLIC as I was staying with Eddie during the week and he was instrumental in my success at Valderrama.”

In second place was the 111 yard wedge played by Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie at the eighth hole in the first round of the Volvo Masters. Montgomerie holed out for an eagle two on his way to securing a record eighth Order of Merit title. Third place went to José Maria Olazábal, who hit his tee shot to a matter of inches at the 163 yard ninth in the final round of the Mallorca Classic, en route to his 23rd European Tour victory.

The RBS Shot of the Month Award is presented to the Tour Member for the shot judged to be the most outstanding played during each calendar month on The European Tour International Schedule. The winning shots from each month are entered towards the RBS Shot of the Year Award.