Golf: McGinley puts Ryder Cup to back of his mind

Ireland's Paul McGinley fired a brilliant six-under-par 67 to take the first-round lead in the Moroccan Open in Rabat.

McGinley eagled his opening hole and added five more birdies and just one bogey for a one-shot advantage over the rest of the field at Dar Es Salam.

McGinley has his sights set on a Ryder Cup debut this year and currently lies 14th in the qualifying table.

England's Neil Cheetham, Swede Michael Jonzon and America's Craig Hainline were all a stroke back on five under, with David Park of Wales and Englishman Sam Walker another stroke adrift.

A repeat of his form of last year, with eight top-10 finishes, could well get him close to an automatic spot in Sam Torrance's European team to face the United States at The Belfry in September.

But the 34-year-old Dubliner knows he has a long way to go before clinching a spot in the 12-man team that will attempt to regain the trophy lost in such controversial circumstances at Brookline.

"Being realistic about it I've probably only got one quarter of the money I need (266,000 euros)," said McGinley.

"It's way too early to start talking about it. I'm going to have to at least quadruple what I've earned till now.

"It's in the back of my mind but the Ryder Cup's in September and I'm going to have to have a very big summer. It's going to be a huge amount of money to make the team this year.

"One thing is certain, whoever finishes 11th is not going to get the pick. Bottom line is you have to be in the top 10."