McGinley tipped to get Wentworth invite

Paul McGinley's fine weekend performance has put him in line for a shot at £1m (€1.47m) - the richest prize in golf – at the HSBC world match play championship at Wentworth next month.

Two places are on offer off the European Order of Merit after this week’s event in Germany and by finishing third at the NEC world championship last night, the Ryder Cup star is odds-on to take a spot.

Ten spots were based on performances in the majors this year but a number of players – including the world’s top three Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson – are thought to be turning down their invitations.

The tournament is also without defending champion Ernie Els, who is recovering from knee surgery, but further European interest is provided by Colin Montgomerie, Thomas Bjorn and Kenneth Ferrie.

Sergio Garcia has yet to make an announcement on whether he is taking up his place, while he and Luke Donald are both thinking about whether to miss the following week’s Seve Trophy match.

Montgomerie captains Britain and Ireland in that, but already knows Darren Clarke is not playing and Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter could be further absentees, while Continental Europe captain Jose Maria Olazabal may have to do without both Garcia and Bernhard Langer.