McGinley sets sights high for years ahead

It would seem golfers become more ambitious as they grow older. Vijay Singh, the world's number one, would seem to prove that theory; and Paul McGinley, who is now entering his 14th year on tour, firmly believes his best years lie ahead, even if he has had two episodes with a surgeon's scalpel inside the past year.

In Dublin yesterday for the rather more pleasant task of extending a sponsorship deal with Allianz for a further three years, McGinley (38), admitted he is still "not 100 per cent" after his pre-Christmas knee surgery, but added, "I'm hugely motivated. I can't wait to get back and put in the hours that I want to put in. I'm still hungry for the game."

The Ryder Cup player, in fact, has heightened his goals for the years ahead, and he badly wants to win more tournament titles. Although he is 17th in the all-time career earnings on the European Tour with over €6 million in prize money, McGinley knows his strike rate in terms of tournament wins is not what it should be. He wants to rectify that.

"I want to start winning tournaments, that's where I've let myself down. I just don't get into contention enough," he said.

McGinley was forced to stay away from the course and even the driving range for virtually the past two months as he recovered from the surgery to his left knee.

"It was a mess," McGinley conceded. "The MRI scan beforehand didn't show up how much damage there was, and the surgeon didn't realise the extent until he actually went into the knee itself."

But the Dubliner doesn't intend to tread warily over the coming months as he seeks to improve his world ranking, which currently stands at 74nd.

To that end, he starts his schedule at next week's Pebble Beach Pro-Am on the US Tour, and then plays in the Malaysian Open, where Padraig Harrington will make his first appearance of the year.

But he will need to force his way into the world's top 64 if he is to claim a place in the Accenture Matchplay in La Costa.

"I need a big week next week," remarked McGinley, who has also pencilled in tournaments in China, Indonesia, Dubai and Qatar. At this stage, McGinley and Montgomerie are the only members of the European Ryder Cup team not in the field for the US Masters, and he doesn't expect a special invitation.

"They've got very, very stringent rules. The rule is the top 50 in the world and I haven't achieved that standard. It would be nice if the Ryder Cup team were invited, particularly after the way we won, but I'm not expecting that."

However, if McGinley plays his way into the world's top 50 in the week ending with the Players' Championship, then he would claim a spot. "It's possible for me to do that. I figure I need to win around 30 world-ranking points to achieve that, which means a win and good finish. It's possible."

The enforced winter lay-off hasn't affected his confidence. "It's a bit scary coming back. It's always in the back of your mind, you know, like a soccer player coming back after injury. After all, this is our living and, after having such a long break, it's unnerving the first few days. But I am pleased with how things have gone since I've started playing again."

Certainly, McGinley is convinced his best years are ahead of him. "I've always been a later developer. Whether it be football or golf or whatever. Even in my amateur days, I was a late developer. I didn't play for Ireland until I was 23 (and) I'm coming into the season with tremendous hunger.

"You have got to be sharp, you can't slacken off and the key is to keep motivated. I was glad to make the last Ryder Cup team (at Oakland Hills) to solidify the fact that I'm a Ryder Cup player and not just remembered for holing the putt at The Belfry.

"You've just got to keep moving forward in this game. If you don't evolve, you're going backwards. You've got to come into the season excited, and the way to get excited is to have new techniques to work on, to bring a little change to your schedule and a little change to your goals.

"I haven't been putting myself into contention as much as I should to be one of the top players in the world and that is what I'm working hard towards achieving."

McGinley is also on the Tour's Players Committee which will meet in Dubai to decide on the next captain for the Ryder Cup at the K Club next year. Bernhard Langer yesterday announced he would not be staying on as captain, preferring to contend for a place on the team itself.

"There are probably six or seven balls in the air," said McGinley. "You've got major winners chomping at the bit to be captain."

Like Langer, Colin Montgomerie is also attempting to play his way onto the team, which leaves Ian Woosnam, Sandy Lyle, Nick Faldo and Jose Maria Olazabal as the main candidates. The committee will meet and vote prior to the Dubai Desert Classic and put their nomination forward to be sanctioned by the Ryder Cup committee, with the new captain set to be announced on the eve of the tournament.