McGinley claims Shot of the Year award

Ireland’s Paul McGinley has won the RBS Shot of the Year Award for 2005 for his approach to the 17th hole in the final round of the Volvo Masters.

McGinley’s 112-yard sand wedge shot on the treacherous par five set up a birdie to help clinch victory in the season-ending event at Valderrama.

The Dubliner collects a trophy and a £2,000 (€2,900) cheque for charity after beating the other monthly award winners.

McGinley said: “There have been a few memorable shots during my career, such as holing the winning putt in the 2002 Ryder Cup, but that was for the team as much as myself.

“I had been very close to winning in 2005 but hadn’t managed to get my hands on a trophy, so it was a highly charged and tense moment on the 17th at Valderrama.

“Everyone knows how dangerous that hole can be and I knew that the slightest mistake could be fatal. I deliberately tried to leave myself a full sand wedge so I laid up with a nine-iron for my second shot and got my yardage exactly right.

“I wanted the ball to pitch and stop on the top tier and that meant controlling the spin.

“With the adrenaline rush, I could easily have gone over the back of the green and faced a treacherous downhill chip or gone into the water.

“I didn’t fancy either option, so it was a great relief to see the ball finish close. When I holed the birdie putt I knew I was in a strong position to win the most important title of my career.”