In-form McGinley seeking desert improvement

RYDER CUP team-mates Paul McGinley and Luke Donald are looking forward to kicking off the second event of the Middle Eastern desert swing at this week’s Qatar Masters after enjoying successful starts to the year in Abu Dhabi.

At last week’s Abu Dhabi Golf Championship McGinley collected his first top-10 finish since the 2006 Mallorca Classic as the Irishman finished in a tie for ninth place alongside Ian Poulter at eight under par.

Prior to Christmas, in his first event of the 2008 European Tour season, McGinley finished tied for 50th at the Hong Kong Open, but only dropped three strokes around the Abu Dhabi Golf Club course and recorded a bogey-free third-round 66, six under par.