McGinley jumps back into the fray

Wales Open: Captain Ian Woosnam's message to his Ryder Cup hopefuls was "Don't panic", but Paul McGinley is not about to take it easy.

Just two weeks after a fourth operation on his left knee, to remove a piece of floating bone, McGinley fully expects to be back in action in this week's Wales Open at Celtic Manor, a title he won in 2001.

The 39-year-old is seventh in the qualifying standings for the big gig at the K Club, but admitted even before the operation, which was conducted after he pulled out of the Irish Open after 13 holes, that he was "looking over his shoulder" following a run of four missed cuts.

He now feels ready to return to attempt to seal his place in Woosnam's team to defend the trophy from September 22nd-24th.

"I feel it's strong enough to take a chance and play this week," said McGinley, who won a three-man play-off here five years ago after heavy rain had reduced the event to 36 holes.

"The operation and physio has gone really well, there was as little trauma caused to the knee as possible. I had the stitches out on Monday night, played six holes yesterday and hit 20 balls and there was minimal swelling.

"Everything has been done with a mind to getting back as quickly as possible, but I've had five knee operations now - four on the left and one on the right - so I know how to recover, and I will not take any chances if it flares up again. But I am pretty positive that things are going to work out.

"Of course the Ryder Cup is part of it. I am in a strong position and I want to be on the team, but I have still to make more points. There are more things on the horizon too, like world ranking points.

"I feel I made a big jump into the top 20 last year and now I have slipped back a bit to 37th and it is a big goal to get back up there again."

McGinley is hoping the cliche of "beware the injured golfer" will be appropriate again this week, adding: "Funnily enough, I only had twinges at the back of the knee twice last year, once was at the NEC Invitational, when I came third, and the other was at Valderrama, where I won.

"I have played with injuries in the past, but it was when it went to the front of the knee that it was causing me so much pain. That started once the bone started to float, the week of the British Masters at the Belfry.

"But I was able to see a little bump at the front of my knee so I was able to push my finger into my knee between every shot and try to push the bit of bone out of the way!"

McGinley has been drawn to partner Ryder Cup hopeful Paul Broadhurst and Wales' Stephen Dodd for the first two days. They go out two groups ahead of Graeme McDowell, Colin Montgomerie and Bradley Dredge of Wales.

There are six other Irish in the field: Peter Lawrie, David Higgins, Stephen Browne, Damien McGrane, Michael Hoey and Gary Murphy.

While McGinley is at least still among the automatic qualifiers, Oakland Hills team-mates Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter are all outside the top 10, while Montgomerie is suffering the worst run of his career with seven missed cuts in his last 10 events.

But Woosnam insisted: "Everybody's panicking about people not playing well, but there are three or four months to go. We want people to make the team, but we don't want them out of form in three or four months' time. Nobody should panic."

Woosnam played with Montgomerie in the final round at Wentworth on Sunday, and added: "He hit a lot of good putts that just didn't go in.

"I didn't need to chat with Monty. He knows the situation. He doesn't want to worry too much and I didn't want to get on his case. He's fine."

As for his style of captaincy, Woosnam believes he will be a lot calmer than when he was Sam Torrance's right-hand man at the Belfry in 2002.

"When I was with Sam I was driving around like a headless chicken, but I don't think I'll be doing that because my role is different," he said.

"I have to take a few deep breaths and slow down and think about it. Take things a bit slower, as if you are going in slow motion."