PAUL McGINLEY embarks on a "lap of honour" following his Austrian Open victory when the Czech Open begins in Marianske Lazne today. The Dubliner bids for back-to-back triumphs knowing that, whatever happens, his place in Ireland's team for the Dunhill Cup at St Andrews in October is secure.
McGinley's exhilarating win in Litschau has put him beyond the reach of any challengers. Darren Clarke (captain), Padraig Harrington and McGinley will form a new Irish line-up on the Old Course and with that goal achieved they can now concentrate on the more serious business of winning titles and getting into peak form for the start of Ryder Cup qualifying at the end of the month.
"I feel as though I am walking on air at the moment," said McGinley yesterday. "And what has been especially nice is the number of rival professionals who are so pleased that I have won at last. The congratulations have been coming in thick and fast."
McGinley made a flying visit back to his London base, and spent Monday at Woburn watching fiancee Alison Shapcott attempting to qualify for the British Women's Open. But she was beaten in a play-off and is listed as second reserve. "Now it is time to get back to work and concentrate hard," said the Dubliner, who has his eyes on the £125,000 title.
The competition is likely to be fierce, and not only from fellow Irishmen Clarke and Harrington, Walton, Raymond Burns, David Higgins, and Francis Howley.
There is a real dog-fight in progress to decide the composition of the England and Scotland teams for the Dunhill Cup for which this is the last counting event. Five players, Jim Payne, Russell Claydon, Peter Mitchell, Paul Broadhurst, and Ross McFarlane are scrapping for the right to accompany Nick Faldo and new Scandinavian Masters champion Lee Westwood on the English side. All are vulnerable to a late charge from behind, perhaps by Andrew Sherborne or Peter Baker.
Scotland will again be led by Colin Montgomerie and it looks as though any two from Andrew Coltart, Paul Lawrie and Raymond Russell will complete the defending champions' team. But the six figure cheque on offer here would take outsider Gordon Brand Jnr into the line-up.
Local interest will centre on the performance of former tennis star Ivan Lendl, who plays his first European Tour event as a golf professional. Czech-born Lendl has been persuaded to play by the sponsor and the national golf federation, although his professional credentials are a trifle thin.
He admitted yesterday that he became a professional golfer as a matter of "convenience" after signing a tennis contract with Mizuno. It also stipulated that when he played golf he used their clubs. At that point Lendl was a seven handicapper, but decided to declare himself a professional.
The former world number one played tennis right handed, but will tee-up as a left-hander. He has been competing for the last two years on US mini-tours and on the American Celebrity Circuit along with other sports stars like Dan Marino, John Elway and Michael Jordan.
