McGinley putts troubles behind him in China

China Open:Paul McGinley hopes his sparkling second-round 67 at the Volvo China Open will prove a turning point in what he admits has been a troubled start to his 2009 season.

The Irishman thrust himself firmly into contention with a superb morning effort around the Beijing CBD International, ending the day three strokes adrift of leader Choi ho-sung on three under after carding a 74 yesterday.

His five-under-par score, the lowest round of the day, was largely down to fine work with his putter and following the struggles of the afternoon groups, he is now well placed to mount a title challenge going into the weekend.

And McGinley, whose best finish so far was a tie for 53rd at the Hong Kong Open in November, is optimistic he can now consign his recent woes on the greens to the past and start to produce more consistent results.

“It’s been a worrying start to the season, I’ve played decently but if I putted better I’d have played better,” he said.

“I had a good start to last season, I was leading the green in regulations this time last year even though I didn’t have any big finishes before the Ballantines and my statistics were really good but this year they haven’t been and it’s been a worry.

“I’ve been working pretty hard. I’ve been afraid of missing greens because chipping to three and four feet has been a problem, my chipping’s been quite good but my putting hasn’t.

“The putter’s made a big difference as I got a lot more aggressive with my iron shots which was great, my iron play got better as the day went on.”

Having begun the day two over par, McGinley was more concerned about making the cut than troubling the leaderboard but the Ryder Cup star now looks ahead to the closing two rounds brimming with confidence.

“Walking off that course yesterday I felt dreadful with the putter, I didn’t know how I was going to get round today,” he said.

“A putting angel must have come to me during the night because I felt great today and every putt I hit was a great putt.

“I played very well and hit 14 greens in regulation, which is a lot of greens to hit around this course.”

McGinley has played in three victorious Ryder Cup teams and victory in the Chinese capital in front of new captain Colin Montgomerie would prove a nice boost to his chances of playing at Celtic Manor in 2010 even at this early stage. It is very much a dream the Irishman still harbours.

“I think Colin Montgomerie will be an excellent captain and I’d love to have the opportunity to play under him,” he said.

“I’ve been on three Ryder Cup teams with him and I know he’s going to be a great captain and I’d love to play another Ryder Cup, of course I would.”

Montgomerie has talked about how being handed the task of winning back the Ryder Cup has led to him taking a more relaxed approach on the course.

But there was little evidence of that new mindset in Beijing as he laboured to a one over par 73 and a two-over score at the halfway point, while his temper boiled over when he berated a photographer and a television cameraman.

Having covered his first four holes in even par, Montgomerie was playing the 14th when he banished a photographer that had irritated him from inside the ropes.

The 45-year-old then hooked his drive at the eighth into the water and as he trudged down the fairway to find his ball, barked at a cameraman: “Don’t film me.”

Ireland's defending champion Damien McGrane signed for a 74 and is alongside Gareth Maybin on two under, after he carded a 70 in his second round. A triple-bogey seven on the 11th ruined Peter Lawrie’s chances of making the weekend’s play as he posted a 77 to miss the cut by one shot on five over. Gary Murphy also missed out, adding a 78 to his opening 76 to finish on 10 over.