Irish Independent

McGinley confident of positive end to ‘rubbish’ season

Despite the obvious pleasure Paul McGinley takes from watching the splendid new golf course he’s designing at Macreddin Village take shape, the Dubliner knows he should be playing at The Grove in Watford this weekend, not enjoying the sylvan splendor of Co Wicklow.

“It really hurts that the best 50 players in the world are in London this week and I’m not there” said McGinley, the only member of the triumphant European side at the K Club not to make it into the Am-Ex World Golf Championship.

"I’ve no complaints," added McGinley "I’ve had a crap season. I’ve played rubbish. I’m embarrassed by my Order of Merit position (66th) and I’m embarrassed about falling to 53rd in the world because I know I am much better than that."

Yet McGinley insists that he solved "the technical problems" which hampered his swing for most if the season, adding “I’ve got to the bottom of it so I’, quite confident now. "I am determined to get a good finish to the season, get back into the world top 50 and qualify for all the majors next year. I’m determined to build on the progress I made at the Ryder Cup" continued McGinley.

The Dubliner returns to action in the Dunhill Links Championship next week knowing he’ll have t boost his position in the Order of Merit if he’s to defend the Volvo Masters title he won in such spectacular fashion last October.

Pat Galavan, the chairman of Macreddin Golf Club, revealed yesterday that McGinley was asked to design their new €12M course in tandem with Welshman Roger Jones because of the passion he invests in everything he undertakes. McGinley, 39, threw himself headlong into his first course design project, saying he’s enjoying it immensely but won’t be undertaking another for some time as he concentrates on making the most of his playing career.

“I’ve four or five years left at the top. I feel I am good enough to win a major and I want to hone in on that,” said McGinley, whose new course opens next July. Macreddin have already sold 80-plus of 444 memberships at an introductory offer of €30,000 per preference share. The new club has joined the PGA European Tour Courses, an amalgam of celebrated venues which includes Quinta Da Lago in Portugal, PGA Golf de Catalunya in Spain and Kungsangen Golf Club in Sweden.

Irish Independent

30th September

Karl MacGinty