McGinley's pursuers slip up

Golf International OpenTruth be told, the tournament is like a subplot; but maybe not for much longer. The real deal in the BMW International Open, the final counting event to determine Europe's players for the Ryder Cup match with the United States in three weeks, is about the "ifs" and "buts" and "maybes" of whom will fall out or, conversely, jump in to the automatic places on Ian Woosnam's team for the shindig at The K Club.

Yesterday's first round here at Eichenried, though, went some way towards making such conjecture obsolete as those cast in the roles of pursuers were burdened by the pressure of it all, each one of them failing dismally to get out of the traps in pursuit of their prey. For Johan Edfors, Paul Broadhurst and John Bickerton, the chase looks like being in vain.

Increasingly, it would appear the 10 players who came here in automatic qualifying places will retain them, with perhaps a little bit of juggling in the qualifying order. Which, for Paul McGinley, despite opening with a disappointing, three-over-par 75, would provide an amount of relief.

It did, however, leave him eight shots adrift of a quartet of leaders that included Order of Merit leader David Howell.

On the day when Darren Clarke officially entered for the Madrid Masters in a fortnight, further strengthening the likelihood he will be a wild card pick by Woosnam come Sunday evening, McGinley struggled to keep his fate in his hands.

But a look at the scorecards signed by the handful of players in position to overtake him would have given McGinley reassurance that things were not quite so bad.

As Padraig Harrington, who shot an opening round 70 while playing alongside his friend, observed, "Paul's in the team now, I don't see a way out for him. Hopefully he will see that tonight and come out and play good, confident golf.

"I don't worry about his form. Three weeks is a long time. Trying to qualify has been a noose around his neck for a long time, but once he gets through this he will be fine. Hopefully he will look at it tonight and see that things are going his way, even if he doesn't feel like that."

Although he had a tough old time on the course, including driving out-of-bounds for a double bogey on the par five sixth, and with his only birdie coming on the 14th when he chipped-in from thick rough, McGinley was inadvertently aided by those players seeking to overhaul him. Edfors opened with a 72, Broadhurst the same and Bickerton with a 73.

If anyone put down a marker for Woosnam, it was Lee Westwood. On Tuesday, in his sick bed and suffering from tonsillitis, Westwood had considered withdrawing. He had been in the adjoining hotel room to Fred Couples at Akron last week, where the American was hospitalised. "I don't know whether it's from the air conditioning or what, but I've got a very high temperature and feel achy all over and generally rotten in my head," said Westwood.

It was only after talking with Woosnam on Tuesday that Westwood decided to travel to Munich. "If it wasn't the last Ryder Cup qualifying (event), I would most certainly be in my bed in England. I told Woosie how I felt. He said, 'If you feel that ill, you shouldn't come, but if you were to come, I'd be pleased that you did play'."

Westwood's response was impressive, shooting a 68 despite his legs feeling like "jelly", as he put it. "When you're feeling ill and your head's spinning and you can't concentrate, mental strength is obviously a massive factor. I was very proud of the round today," said Westwood, who would require a wild card from Woosnam.

Of those in a tie for the lead, only Howell is destined to play in the Ryder Cup. The Englishman was having a "pretty average day", until he finished birdie-birdie-eagle for a 67, a score which was matched by Martin Erlandson, Gary Evans and Garry Houston.

Luke Donald was, along with Westwood, in an eight-man tie for fifth after a 68.

Damien McGrane led the Irish challenge, shooting a 69 that featured four birdies and a lone bogey. "I'd a funny stretch in the middle of the season, but I have bounced back and am back on track for my target of making it into the Volvo Masters," said McGrane, who must get into the top-60 on the moneylist to get a ticket to Valderrama for the season-ending tournament. "I want to nail that down as soon as possible," he added. He is 62nd now.

Meanwhile, Clarke's entry into the Madrid Masters reaffirmed indications that the Ulsterman will be a captain's pick. Clarke lost his wife, Heather, to cancer on August 13th.

"I think everyone is pleased that Darren will be on the team," said Harrington. "It is very important we have our best players. He's experienced and has played well all year. It could be a good distraction for him to get involved."

Could it not be too emotional an experience?

"Afterwards, maybe," said Harrington. "I think he will be able to focus fine until the Sunday night. It might be a bit too much afterwards, but, when he is out (on the course), it would be a welcome release to get back playing."