McGinley back in the shake-up

Paul McGinley expected to be watching sports day at his children’s school this afternoon – but instead he was to be found capitalising on a massive stroke of luck and reigniting his bid for the Ryder Cup.

The 39-year-old finished his second round of the Smurfit Kappa European Open at the K Club near Dublin in 91st place at lunchtime yesterday and thought he had no chance of surviving the cut.

Six hours later, however – and after he had nearly flown home to London – he received the news that he was still alive in the €3.5m tournament.

This morning he fired a five-under-par 67 to charge through the field – and with a forecast of bad weather later in the day, everything appeared to be going in his favour all of a sudden.

“I was on a 5pm flight yesterday. But it was delayed until 5.45pm, and at a quarter past my wife rang and said the scores were tumbling and I’d better hang around,” said McGinley.

“If the flight hadn’t been delayed I probably would have gone. There was also a bomb scare at Dublin Airport, but Aer Lingus were brilliant. They got me off the flight, found my case and delivered my clubs later.”

This season McGinley, the match-winning hero of the 2002 Ryder Cup and unbeaten in Detroit two years ago, has slipped from fourth to eighth in the points table and was concerned a third cap was slipping away from him.

“I was in a slump – no doubt or question about it,” he added.

“I’ve analysed every part of my life and my game, and this proves to me I’m on the right track. It definitely gives me a boost.

“I don’t think it’s been pressure. I’ve just lost my form. All I can put it down to are the peaks and trough that every professional sportsman has. I hope I’m entering another peak. I need it.”

McGinley’s six birdies moved him on to the three-under-par mark of 213 and made him the early leader in the clubhouse.

He was still six adrift of Welshman Bradley Dredge. But he and his closest challengers for the €577,000 first prize had still to tee off again – and were due to do so as conditions worsened.

Forward tees were in use at the first, third, fifth and 16th holes – reducing the length of the lay-out by a total of 128 yards – while hole locations were moved to more sheltered areas and the decision was also taken not to cut the greens.

The overall length was further reduced by moving several other tees to forward positions on the back tees.

The forecast was for an Atlantic low pressure system to cause conditions to deteriorate gradually.

The rain was expected to move in by early afternoon and the winds increase to gusts close to 30mph.

Swede Peter Hanson was among those also looking to make hay before the worst stuff arrives – and with five birdies in the first six holes, he burst to seven under and joint third with Darren Clarke.

Dredge’s World Cup-winning partner Stephen Dodd was in second spot at eight under.

Padraig Harrington had a good morning too, scoring a 69 to improve to two under – while Lee Westwood, who has missed seven of his last eight cuts, was four under for the day and three under overall with one to play.

McGinley had been paired with Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam in the first two rounds but said that, far from it applying the pressure on him, it had been beneficial.

“Woosie was supportive, not on my case. That’s what you want from a captain - you don’t want to feel under pressure when he’s around and I didn’t. The captain is very important now.”