European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley lost out in his first on-course confrontation with Tom Watson, and next year’s Gleneagles Ryder Cup rival.
In fact both players missed the cut but with McGinley posting scores of 78 and 74 for a 12-over par tally compared to Watson who shot rounds of 73 and 77 for a 10-over par mark.
“I found it extremely tough out there and the golf course after the rain we had this morning is black and white from the way it played in practice to how it’s playing now,” said McGinley.
“It’s grown about 3000 yards (smiling).
“There was a bit of a spring in the fairways when we got here on Monday and Tuesday but now there’s nothing. It’s extremely long. Obviously the rough was very punishing.
Paul McGinley swaps his golf shores for a coat and tie and working with SKY Sports after missing PGA Championship cut. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
“I’m just way off the pace in terms of playing a golf course like this. Still, having said that, I’ve enjoyed my week, I’ll do some work for Sky TV over the weekend, and that’s it.”
The PGA Championship was McGinley’s first Major since the 2009 British Open and he must have half-expected not to play four rounds as less than an hour after handing in his scorecard he had showered and changed into a suit for a stint in front of the SKY Sports cameras.
“My game was off the pace in these kind of conditions and I mean the golf course is too long for me, that’s the bottom line,” he added.
“I’m hitting 2-irons, 3-irons, 4-irons into all the par fours. There’s no roll in the ball and it’s not flying in the rain. It was tough, there’s no doubt.
“It’s not unplayable as there are guys who are up there, particularly the long-hitters, who are playing well.
“But then it’s been hard for me not having played in four years in an American Major and then coming in. It’s a very different game.
“It’d be a bit like the Americans not playing links for four years and then all of a sudden being thrust on Muirfield this year.”
McGinley will next meet-up with Watson next month in Scotland when they face each other in a nine-hole challenge over the 2014 Ryder Cup Centenary host course as part of the ‘One Year To Go to the start of the Ryder Cup’ functions.
“I enjoyed the couple of days with Tom and it was fun,” said McGinley.
“We battled and both of us felt the same.”
McGinley is now playing a family holiday ahead of next fortnight’s Ryder Cup one-year function at Gleneagles and in the lead-up to his next event, the Johnnie Walker Championship and starting a few days later on August 22nd at Gleneagles.
Ireland’s other two Oak Hill starters in Graeme McDowell and Shane Lowry were out in the afternoon half of the draw and enjoying dry and humid conditions after the steady morning downpour.
