McGinley mulls over Ryder Cup permutations

PAUL McGINLEY, the man who won the last Ryder Cup, last night set up what should be a nail-biting climax to Europe’s 12-month race for automatic places next weekend.

It is a race in which Colin Montgomerie, the man who top-scored at The Belfry two years ago, and Luke Donald can play no part. For the first time in his career Montgomerie needs a wild card, his chances of a guaranteed place disappearing with two closing rounds of 75 in the NEC world championship in Akron.

Donald had to finish second on his world championship debut to have a hope of climbing into the top 10 and he was there after seven holes of his final round last night in Akron. Then came four bogeys in the next five holes and he resigned himself to a wild card being his only way in.

While David Howell and Ian Poulter, eighth and ninth in the standings, were forced to sit out this week’s event after failing to qualify, McGinley, guaranteed over £14,000 by turning up, inevitably closed the gap on them.

It was not as much as he hoped and, with Swede Fredrik Jacobson finishing three shots ahead of him after a 74 which included a double bogey seven on the 16th, he remains in the 10th and last automatic spot with only the BMW International Open to come.

McGinley finished with a two over par 72 and six over par aggregate of 286. As he headed for the airport and his trans-Atlantic flight home he was lying joint 46th of the 75 players.

A first prize of £200,000 is available next week and the gap between Howell and McGinley looked like being less than £25,000, with France’s Jean-Francois Remesy, Swedes Jacobson and Joakim Haeggman and Londoner Brian Davis pressing hard.

“I just battled as hard as I could,” said McGinley, who has not had a week off since mid-June in his pursuit of a second cap. “I can’t complain about my finishing position because I did well to achieve that. I fought as hard as Hell and I’ll see how the cards fall now, re-group and go out again. Somebody could have a hot week and jump me, but I could have a hot week. The destiny is in my hands - if I win the tournament I’m in the team.”

To Montgomerie the sums do not matter any more. He is reliant on Langer’s decision, but weighing heavily in his favour is that he has never been beaten in cup singles and Europe lack experience.

All Langer would comment was: “It would have been nice to see Monty contend, but he is not far away.” Montgomerie said: “I want to play well next week, but I want to play well in every tournament. It’s no different.”

What is different is his life. His marriage broke up in April and he admits he is still struggling to sleep. It is the reason he has slimmed down.

“I’m working out a lot to make myself tired,” he explained.

As for the winner of the $1.2m first prize at Firestone CC, that still looked like being American Ryder Cup wild card Stewart Cink when he led by four with nine to play. He then bogeyed the 10th to stand 10 under, three in front of South African Rory Sabbatini and four clear of Tiger Woods, Davis Love, Chris DiMarco and Argentina’s Angel Cabrera.