Fit-again McGinley has turn for the better

EUROPEAN OPEN: There aren't too many patients who go to the doctor hoping to have their worst fears confirmed writes John O'Sullivan at the K Club

For Paul McGinley, though, the diagnosis of a damaged knee assuaged concerns regarding his swing, articulated by coach Bob Torrance, who felt his protégé was turning insufficiently on his right side.

Surgery and physiotherapy returned McGinley to rude good health and yesterday at the K Club, over the Smurfit Course, he reinforced that assertion with a two-under-par 70, an excellent afternoon's work in the blustery conditions.

"I had a spell of four missed cuts and I was so glad when the doctor told me how bad my knee was, because it added up to what Bob was telling me: that I was not rotating around my right side," the Dubliner said.

"That was more of a confidence boost than anything else. It wasn't actually me playing poorly, there was a good reason for it."

Once the rehabilitation was completed McGinley's form returned quickly and ended the perplexing run of missed cuts that saw him fail to qualify for the weekend at the Qatar and Caltax Masters and the Portuguese Open. He had sustained cartilage damage and a chipped bone while en route to a second place finish in Dubai but wasn't medically screened until after Portugal.

"Since I came back from my injury I feel I've played pretty steadily. My results have been pretty good, nothing outstanding, but they have been pretty solid. I just have to be patient and wait for my week when things come together. My game is in good shape."

His round yesterday confirmed that. On a day when only 22 players broke par, McGinley, joined on the two under mark by fellow Dubliner Padraig Harrington, spearheaded the home challenge. His round contained four birdies and a brace of bogeys: he was philosophical about the latter.

"I'm sure I'm like everybody else in that I made some mistakes not knowing the golf course. I hit a couple of wrong clubs off tees and things like that. You're going to make a couple of mistakes. Having said that, it was a good test and I'm obviously pleased.

"You have to hang in; there are a lot of tough par fours, even the par fives are tough. The course is standing up very well. It's not unfair. The wind is strong but it's not blowing the balls on the greens. It was a good test of golf."

In fine fettle physically - the excesses of last weekend when he played four rounds at the French Open and then 36 holes qualifying for the British Open at Sunningdale on Monday meant his knee was a little stiff and required physiotherapy - he knows that patience is the key to sustaining his momentum in the tournament.

"I know that pushing it and getting frustrated is not going to help."

Inevitably in a Ryder Cup year and given his deified status from the last Europe-America spat at the Belfry, he was quizzed about his intentions.

"There's not point in me saying that I don't want to make it, and it is on my mind. But I have a long way to go. I'm going to have to double the money that I have earned at the moment. If I play well I'll make it, if I don't, I won't. It's as simple as that."

While McGinley considered loftier climes, the majority of the 16 Irishmen who teed it up were trying to hang on, some better versed with survival techniques than others.

Peter Lawrie shot level par 72, admitting: "I hung in there, head down and worked hard," cherished attributes on a difficult day. Ashbourne's John Dwyer shot a fine 73, one ahead of Gary Murphy.

The Heritage-affiliated Murphy produced a strong finish with a closing birdie on the home green, a by-product of a 240-yard second shot from a downhill lie to the par five.

"I was hoping for a better start but I suppose there is no real damage done today. I lost my composure for a few holes on the back nine, became frustrated after missing a good chance at 10 and three putting 13. The birdie at the last was important."