McGinley revives Ryder Cup hopes

Paul McGinley, relieved just to survive the halfway cut in the Nissan Irish Open, now has a chance to win it following a remarkable third round at County Louth.

And so, much to his amazement, does Padraig Harrington.

McGinley started the day in joint 67th place on level par, 10 strokes behind leader Peter Lonard. But brilliant though a six under par 66 was – nobody else shot lower than 69 – things just got better and better once he had finished it.

A strong wind was responsible for that and come the end of the day the Dubliner found himself in joint fourth position. He is a mere four strokes behind Lonard, whose 72 left him one ahead of fellow Australian Brett Rumford and two in front of South African James Kingston.

Suddenly McGinley not only has the opportunity to become the first home winner of the title since John O’Leary in 1982, but also to re-ignite his bid to keep his Ryder Cup place.

“I’ve been feeling for the last month that my game is as good as it’s ever been and I haven’t been converting the chances,” said Europe’s match-winning hero of The Belfry two years ago.

“I’ve had a lull, but everybody goes through patches like that and today hopefully is the start of a run in the other direction.”

McGinley lies 17th in the cup race, but most of those immediately ahead of him are either taking a week off or missed the cut.

“If I am going to do it I will have to play really well. I’m going to have to have a lot of rounds like that one.”

Harrington, meanwhile, was staggered to be in the hunt at five under, five behind, because after an outward 40 he was no fewer than 11 shots adrift.

The world number eight described himself as “scatter-brained” the way he started his day’s work, but he then birdied six of the back nine holes for a 71.

“I think I need to play a quick nine before I go out,” he said. “My focus isn’t there and my preparation needs to be a little sharper so I’m ready when I get going.

“I’m not getting my head around things before I start. I have to wait until I get to breaking point before I do it. I’m too focused on swinging rather than scoring.”

When he finished he was only three off the lead and he commented: “I cannot believe it – I was amazed. The first time I had any thought whatsoever, any feeling this week that I am in the hunt, was chipping on the 18th. All my birthdays had come at once.”

Lonard is seeking his first victory on the European tour after three runners-up finishes, but has earned over a million dollars in America each of the last two seasons and at 37 has all the experience necessary.

He had a real wobble on the dangerous 163-yard seventh, needing three chips to make the green and running up a triple bogey six.

Scot Stephen Gallacher took over the lead even though he bogeyed the same hole, but after dropping another shot on the next Lonard got his act back together – unlike Gallacher.

The nephew of former Ryder Cup captain Bernard had five bogeys in eight holes and finished the day alongside Harrington.

Lonard, meanwhile, birdied the 13th and 16th to return to where he started on 10 under.

Pre-tournament favourite Darren Clarke crashed to a 78 and three over aggregate, but then congratulated himself.

“I played atrociously and I give myself a pat on the back for being in a remarkably good mood,” said the Ulsterman.

“I have no idea what happened. The first two days were fantastic tee to green and I flushed it on the range. But once I got out there I struck the ball really badly.”