Golf: McGinley astounded by ‘formidable’ Goosen

Dubliner Paul McGinley, so close now to securing a Ryder Cup debut, can hardly believe he is still five shots behind Retief Goosen after three days of the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond.

‘‘If before the start you’d given me 11 under with the conditions we’ve had I’d have said I’d have been leading or very close to it.

‘‘It just goes to show you the overall standard. Retief’s confidence is incredibly high, but when you win the US Open and you’re not confident two weeks later then there must be something wrong with you.

‘‘The guy always had a huge amount of talent, but with the confidence as well he is pretty formidable golfer.’’

A third-round 67 sends McGinley into the final round in joint third place with John Daly.

Even if he cannot catch the South African, overhauling Australian Adam Scott and taking second place would earn the 34-year-old nearly £250,000 and take him to the verge of securing a place in Sam Torrance’s side.

And if he was to win, then he should be there.

It took McGinley five years on tour to capture his first title and after adding another in 1997 and then partnering Padraig Harrington to Ireland’s first World Cup success, he has been waiting and waiting for another.

In his last 11 starts, however, the 34-year-old has had seven top 15 finishes.