McGinley finds his form as Open qualifier tees off

Paul McGinley heads into today’s British Open 36-hole qualifier buoyed after storming his way to a share of third place at the BMW International Open near Cologne.

McGinley finished just one shot out of a play-off, which was won by England’s Danny Willett with a par at the fourth extra play-off hole for his first Tour success.

Willett (73) and Australia’s Marcus Fraser (71) ended regulation play locked at 11-under par.

Willett, 24 was a team-mate of Rory McIlroy’s in the 2007 GB & I Walker Cup side but unlike McIlroy, it has taken the Sheffield golfer 106 starts to finally taste success.

And helping steer Willett to victory was Coleraine caddy, Ryan McGuigan, who collected his fourth Tour win.

McGinley’s 66 was the best scoring of the last day as he shared third with England’s Chris Wood (73) and Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano on 10-under par.

The effort is McGinley’s third top-10 in just eight starts this year, while it has been eight years since McGinley can boast such a similar run of good form, and it could not come at a better time, heading to Sunningdale.

After a shock third round 77, McGinley jumped into the overtaking lane, picking off seven birdies to finish on 10 under on the rain-softened Gut Larcenhof course.

However there some anxious moments for McGinley, who headed to the airport thinking his score would be passed. It wasn’t until more than three hours after his round McGinley was aware he had missed out on the play-off by a shot.

“I was on my way to the airport and thought I better get back to the course just in case but as it turned out Marcus (Fraser) and Danny (Willett) finished in front of me,” he said.

McGinley’s reward for his efforts of €103,333 lifts the 45-year old up 20 places to 49th on the Race to Dubai.

The last time McGinley posted three top 10s in four events was in 2004, starting with his fifth place in the 2004 Irish Open at Baltray.

However the ultra-competitive Dubliner, while delighted with his fourth round display, was still ruing a third round that included five three-putts.

“The big gaping thing of the week was taking five three-putts on Saturday and I don’t think I’ve ever had five three-putts in a round of golf in my life before,” he said.

“I just lost my speed on the greens and lost my confidence but it was a good reaction to come back and shoot the score I did today, so I am pleased.

“I do have to give some thought to that round as to why I lost my speed and why I lost my confidence.

“But it’s another top 10, so that’s three top 10s in four tournaments and it’s a long time since I’ve done that.

“It’s just a real thrill to be playing good golf again and to be back up at the right end of a leaderboard.

“There have been a number of barren years so it’s a real thrill.

“So I’m now heading to Sunningdale and Portrush in good form and I’m looking forward particularly to Portrush as it is one of my favourite golf courses in the world.”