McGinley prefers to perform under pressure

A PRESSURE that I enjoy. hat’s the excited reaction of Paul McGinley to the coming three tournaments that will decide whether he again lines out for Europe against the US in the Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills next month.

As he strolled down the sixth fairway during a practice round at Whistling Straits yesterday, prior to his fifth appearance in the US PGA Championship, the 37-year-old Dubliner spoke of his hopes and ambitions for the PGA, followed by next week’s WGC-NEC Championship and the BMW International in Munich at the end of August.

McGinley has been telling us all year about how well he had been playing but wasn’t putting the scores together. That seems to have taken an upward turn, as evidenced by his second place finish in last week’s Dutch Open, and he is facing the run-in to the Ryder Cup with confidence.

“This week is about two things, the PGA and the Ryder Cup,” he said.

“People tell me I have to forget about the Ryder Cup but I don’t agree. I’m using the Ryder Cup to propel me forward. It’s something I want to play in and it’s not a pressure I want to go away. It’s a nicer pressure to be in contention for the Ryder Cup than struggling to make cuts.

“I’m looking to play myself into the team. I don’t want to go down the road mentally of thinking I might get a pick. I don’t know what I need to do, much will depend on others.

“Fortunately, I’m in next week which gives me an advantage over guys who are not.

“I feel I’ve played better this campaign than any previously. Other guys have played really well and good luck to them. I think we’re going to have the strongest European team ever. I know how good these fellas are week in, week out.

“The scores they’re shooting really amaze me. Last week I played well enough to win and came up three shots short and I’m thinking how I could have made up those three shots.

“I had only six bogeys all week, I hit the ball great, it was a really tough day Sunday. I shot the best score, 65, and the guy who wins shoots 67, only two worse.”

As for the much discussed Whistling Straits course, McGinley saw many similarities with The Old Head of Kinsale.

“You’re either on the right or left hand side of the Head and it’s the same here. A true links would give you options, you can’t run it in. This week is not going to be easy. It’s a tough course and there’s so much local knowledge involved.

“There’s a lot to be learned and it can’t be done in two practice rounds if the wind changes. I’m neither physically nor mentally tired even if this is my 12th tournament in 13 weeks.”