European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley acknowledged the so-called ‘Ryder Cup Captain’s curse’ after missing the halfway cut for a third event in succession at the BMW International Open in Cologne.
McGinley added a second round 71 to his opening 72 to fall short of playing all four rounds for a first time since sharing 15th place in last May’s Spanish Open and since then he’s missed the cut in both the flagship BMW PGA Championship and last week’s Irish Open at Fota Island.
However McGinley’s plight wasn’t helped in playing his fourth hole, or the 13th of the Gut Larcenhof course, when his tee shot hit the shoulder of a marshal and ricocheted into a bush from where he had to take a penalty and return to the tee on route to a bogey and a round of 71 for a one under par tally and two shots shy of the cut-off mark.
“I managed to birdie four holes on my inward half but ultimately what happened on the 13th I feel ultimately spoilt my chances as I then bogeyed the next and also my ninth,” he said.
Paul McGinley pens a message to a Ryder Cup supporter’s panel in the exhibition area at the BMW International Open. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“I’ve played a lot of good golf over the two days but too many mistakes, and not enough consistency and get through a cut after now missing three in a row.
“There’s also an element that my golf is certainly suffering as we get nearer to the Ryder Cup, and it’s no co-incidence that the Captains all seem to struggle in becoming a Ryder Cup captain.
“But then I don’t want to use that as an excuse as I am still getting enough time to practice and prepare. I’m still competitive as I showed in coming back in four under par but too many mistakes early on.
“I’m just not getting away to good starts such as a 73 last in Cork, a 74 start at Wentworth and this week a 72, so I am having to shoot 69s to make the cut and I’m just putting myself behind the 8-ball.”
McGinley was asked after his round to autograph a large Ryder Cup support panel in the exhibition area where he penned the comment: “Go Europe!! Lots of cheering and noise please!! Paul McGinley, Captain European Team 2014’.
And with Tiger Woods returning to competition this week on the PGA Tour McGinley was asked if he will be expecting more cheering and noise should Woods travel with Tom Watson’s side to Gleneagles.
“Of course, it’s going to take a while for Tiger to get his game back and I’ve said before the Ryder Cup is one of the greatest sporting events in the world and if Tiger Woods is fit then you want to see him playing at Gleneagles,” said McGinley.
“The Ryder Cup will definitely benefit from his participation as he’s still the biggest draw card in the game.
“But then both Tom (Watson) and I have talked about this coming Ryder Cup and drawing a line under the level of sportsmanship and the level of cheering that we don’t want to cross.
“I have been strong about this point as we don’t want any untoward behaviour but then I don’t expect that, and that it will be a very passionate noise, and that’s what makes the Ryder Cup so special because everyone gets so caught up in the Ryder Cup.”
Four players – England’s Danny Willlett (68), Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo (66) and the Spanish duo of Rafa Cabrera-Bello (68) and Pablo Larrazabal (63) – head the event by two shots at 12-under par.
Michael Hoey (69) and Shane Lowry (68) are well placed sharing 11th place at nine under par.
And hometown hero Martin Kaymer ended a 28 Tour event run in missing the cut by four shots with shock scores of 71 and 73
