McGinley plans to sleep on it

Paul McGinley is hoping he can shake off the lingering effects of jetlag and climb up the Indonesian Open leaderboard after making a steady if unspectacular start on the opening day in Jakarta.

The Ryder Cup star carded a two-under-par 68 at the Cengkareng Golf Club and currently lies four shots off the lead before heavy rain caused play to be suspended for the day with some players still out on the course.

After making birdie at the 11th – his second hole – McGinley immediately dropped a shot on the 12th before making par on his next nine holes.

It looked like his day was to end in disappointing fashion when he bogeyed the par-three third to drop to one over, but three successive birdies from the sixth ensured a respectable finish and keeps him in contention.

But the 41-year-old is eager to enjoy a good night’s rest before the second round and keep up the momentum he has built in the season so far.

’I didn’t play very well,“ said McGinley.

“I just need a couple of days to get over the jetlag as I didn’t feel very strong and I think it is the jetlag that is doing it.

“But there are positives to take from it considering I haven’t been able to get a good night’s rest.

“I need to get some strength back so I am relatively pleased with 68 but I need to play better. I just seem to be waking up at five o’clock every morning but we will see how it goes.”

McGinley is playing in the tournament on the back of some impressive performances in the Middle East, where he finished ninth in the Abu Dhabi Championship and 14th at the Dubai Desert Classic.

And the Dubliner is hopeful he can continue his good run of form into the rest of the season.

“I have had a good start and I’ve played very well,” he added.

“If I keep playing like that for the rest of the year I will have my good weeks. I need to get back up in the world rankings as I have fallen quite a lot. I didn’t have any top finishes last year but a couple this year will be good.”

Another player hoping for an improved season is Darren Clarke, who also carded a two-under-par 68 in his first round in Jakarta.

The 39-year-old is keen to make up for some disappointing finishes in recent weeks with a good performance at the tournament.

Like McGinley, Clarke found birdie putts frustratingly sparse today, managing to sink just three whilst dropping one shot on the par-four 11th.

“I am frustrated but it was good to finish under par,” he said.

“I holed three putts from three feet and one eight-foot putt and that’s all I can say, it is just me at the moment.

“I made a lot of chances but unfortunately I didn’t take them.”

Australian David Bransdon and Dutchman Joost Luiten currently sit top of the leaderboard after an opening-round score of 64, though that could change when the remainder of the first round is completed early tomorrow morning.

Englishman Philip Golding will be keen to build on his first round display after the 45-year-old carded a five-under-par 65 and is just one stroke off the leaders.

Golding is chasing only his second European Tour victory after capturing the Open de France in 2003.