Golf: McGinley eyes Cup spot

Paul McGinley was today aiming to take another small step closer to a Ryder Cup debut in the second round of the Moroccan Open.

McGinley enjoyed a one-shot lead overnight after a first round six-under-par 67 at Dar Es Salam, with England’s Neil Cheetham, Swede Michael Jonzon and America’s Craig Hainline all on five under.

Welshman David Park, runner-up two years ago, was another shot back after a 69 alongside England’s Sam Walker - but defending champion Jamie Spence could only manage a three-over-par 76 and faces a battle to make the cut.

McGinley has his sights set on a Ryder Cup debut this year and currently lies 14th in the qualifying table after a consistent start to the season, making the cut in each of his first five events, with a worst finish of 33rd.

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),’’ McGinley said.

‘‘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.’’

Alluding to the number of players now spending more time on the US Tour - such as Sergio Garcia, Jesper Parnevik, Jose Maria Olazabal and Bernhard Langer he added: ‘‘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.’’

Cheetham has more prosaic ambitions, namely retaining the card he won at the qualifying school last year, and another few rounds with just 23 putts would go a long way to doing just that.

‘‘I putted fantastic,’’ said the 33-year-old from Sheffield, who signed schoolboy forms with Sheffield Wednesday before a knee injury pushed him into golf.

‘‘I drove the ball OK, indifferent really, but my short game was great as it has been all year.’’

Cheetham’s best finish so far this season came in Brazil, when he was joint eighth in Sao Paulo, and he will need a few more performances like that.

‘‘That was my best ever finish and gave me a lot of confidence,’’ he added. ‘‘And missing the cut the next week was probably a good thing because it brought me down to earth with a jolt.

‘‘I did a lot of hard work last week when I went home and hopefully it will continue to pay off.’’