McGinley desperate to make Ryder Cup

Paul McGinley is trying everything in his power to secure qualification for next month’s Ryder Cup, but he knows time is not on his side.

The Irishman, who sank the winning putt at The Belfry to retain the trophy in 2002, claimed joint second place at the KLM Open in Holland yesterday to give his ambitions a timely boost.

McGinley went into the competition saying he needed to win £200,000 (€300,500) this month to stand a chance of making Bernhard Langer’s team and the £69,000 (€103,700) he claimed at the Hilversumsche Golf Club after a final round of 65 has helped start that prize fund.

Many of Europe’s bigger names chose not to go to Holland, preferring instead to concentrate on this week’s final major of the season, the USPGA.

However, McGinley, together with David Howell, Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell, all played in an attempt to boost their standing in the Ryder Cup European points table.

“It wasn’t a huge decision to come here,” said McGinley, who moved up a place to 14th, overtaking McDowell, to trail final place-holder Joakim Haeggman by 108,922 points - equivalent to £72,000 (€108,200) in prize money.

“I want desperately to be in that Ryder Cup team. I feel I am playing well enough to be in it and I will keep chasing.

“I have played a lot of really good golf this year. I feel I have played better in this campaign than I did in the last.

“What I haven’t achieved this time is that I haven’t had the big cheques I had last time. I have had three seconds and they have all been in small points events – the Lancome, Dubai and the KLM.

“If you are going to come second it is good to come second in the big tournaments. But I am still there with a shout. There are three events to go [until the team is selected] and we’ll see what happens.”

Stoke’s David Lynn does not have to worry about the Ryder Cup – which means he has even more time to savour his maiden European Tour victory, an enthralling three-stroke triumph over Richard Green.

The Australian led by three going into the final round but Lynn held his nerve as he chased down the leader and by the time they left the 16th green, the Englishman was ahead by two.

A birdie at the last, coupled with a par for Green, completed a four-under-par round of 66 and a six-shot swing on the day to give Lynn his first success in 168 attempts.

He was also the 11th first-time winner on the European Tour this season and the fourth in as many weeks.

“It meant a lot to me, as it does for everyone who wins for the first time. Probably more so for me,” said the 30-year-old.

“I have been close a few times, had plenty of chances and this time things went my way; I managed to finish the job off.

“I feel absolutely awesome. I was getting a bit carried away going down 17 and there was a tear in my eye and I had to pull myself together, which I did because I had to finish the job off.

“You have got to make key putts and some went for me. There were a couple out there that Greenie could have made and it just changed the whole thing.

“You just have to make those crucial putts at the time and then hang on. I have been working with John Allsop mentally and at that point you turn to the thoughts you have been practising to make you stronger.

“There are key moments when you have to start talking to yourself and make sure you put the foot down again.

“It is something I have always felt I have been capable of doing (winning). Hopefully this is a stepping stone for me now I’ve finally got it out of the way.

"My goal every year is to play as well as I can. I wanted to start winning events. Whatever comes from this and other wins will be.”