McGinley needs a pitstop
Formula One fan Paul McGinley believes his game needs a major pit-stop if he is to get back on track with a chance to compete.
The Dubliner, 40, did not automatically qualify for the elite Volvo Masters on merit after his worst season since he turned pro in 1992.
He tees it up thanks to a special exemption for past champions thanks to his record-equalling Valderrama win in 2005.
But he's still looking for his first top 10 finish in over a year and after sliding from 16th to 209th in the world since he won here, he's preparing to take drastic action.
Reflecting on a year to forget, he said: "I feel like I’ve been driving a Formula One car most of the year that’s got the wrong set-up on it.
"There’s plenty of power in there. There’s plenty of drive within me to play well but I don’t feel I’ve had the tools to play well enough.
"It’s a long time since I’ve shot a round in the low 60’s. Okay, I did a 66 last week but that was a case of getting a run of four holes where I’d four birdies and had 12 pars on the last 12 holes.
"I had the potential for 62 or 63 but wasn’t able to kick on to it. I’m not stale. I’ve got a burning hunger to play well. I’ve got a huge desire.
"I know technically I haven’t swung the club well this year and I’m going to make changes with that. I’m going to go down different avenues. Everything is up for review. I’ve got a good idea where I am going to go but I haven’t finalised it yet."
Ranked 74th in the Order of Merit, McGinley has missed just four cuts from his 24 starts with his best finish a share of 16th place in Qatar last January.
And while tour insiders reveal that McGinley's slide in form has a lot to do with the new home he has just moved into in Sunningdale, he's not making excuses.
The Dubliner bought a house just yards from Sunningdale's practice ground more than a year ago and had it completely rebuilt.
But the project ran way over deadline and budget and he was forced to live in a rented apartment for eight months before finally moving in last Monday.
McGinley explained: "We’ve moved in now and it’s been a big project, bigger than I ever wanted or needed. It’s been a long process, it’s taken an extra year longer than I wanted to take.
"But that’s done and dusted and out of the way now. I really don’t think that’s been an issue. Maybe it has. Maybe at the back of my mind it has. I don’t know. I’m not out on the golf course thinking about it.
"Okay, we’ve been in temporary accommodation for seven or eight months now and have had the pressure of living in a little apartment with three kids but that’s life, something that everyone has to deal with at one time or another.
"There’s so many people have to live in far more difficult circumstances. I’m looking for any sympathy whether that’s the reason or not, no way."
While he won at Valderrama with a record-equalling total two years ago, any prize money he earns this week will not count towards the Order of Merit or the Ryder Cup points lists.
And even though he has won on the Cadiz course, he does not feel too optimistic about his chances of a repeat this week.
He said: "I just wish I was playing a bit better and coming off a bit of confidence. I’ve had one of my poorer years on Tour.
"It’s been such a strange year where I’ve made so many cuts and yet I haven’t had a high at any stage during the season. I haven’t had a bit of momentum, which is the most important thing in sport.
"Even the British Open, you may say, but I came away so disappointed to finish 19th, despite the fact that I’ve played really well. I haven’t created momentum that would carry me from one performance to the next.
"It’s a tough golf course to come when you are not very confident and things haven’t gone well for the year. But we’ll see, we’ll take it as it comes.
"My ability to turn out a result is not there. It’s quite a while since I’ve had a stretch of a few weeks in a row where things have gone well and I’m on a run and things are working out for me.
"That feeling hasn’t been rekindled for a while and I’d hope for it to happen sooner rather than later."