Harrington urges McGinley to be positive
Padraig Harrington is urging Paul McGinley to look on the bright side after his Wentworth meltdown last week.
Downcast McGinley was devastated to blow a four-shot lead with a third round 79 and finish tied 10th in the BMW PGA Championship.
But Harrington reckons McGinley should be proud of his good golf - especially when he followed a course record 65 with superb second round 66.
Harrington said: “I was very impressed with his Friday score, much more so than his Thursday score.
“Anybody who gets on a run can have a good score. But he should look at Friday and take confidence from backing up Thursday’s 65 and not shooting a 72 or a 74.
“To shoot 66 on Friday was a big deal. He shot 72 again on Sunday so the form was still good.”
Blown out by a the wind on Saturday afternoon, McGinley racked up seven bogeys and a double bogey to slip five shots off the pace and never recovered.
But Harrington believes that his fellow Dubliner was unlucky with the conditions on a course where leading is always tougher than chasing.
He explained: “On Saturday, it was a tricky golf course and he got it in the worst of conditions.
“It is not as if it was a straightforward golf course and he shot 79. A lot of the field shot similar scores and they weren’t protecting a lead.”
Asked if McGinley could be hit by a Wentworth hangover, Harrington added: “Of course, but he should be looking to round two.
"It’s a very positive thing to be able to back up a score like that - to put another really good score on top of your lead.
“You’ve got to bear in mind, nobody is comfortable leading on that golf course. Wentworth is a much easier golf course to chase on.”
Harrington and McGinley will continue their battle for a place in Nick Faldo’s Ryder Cup side in the Celtic Manor Wales Open today.
But McGinley is still struggling to put his Wentworth worries behind him.
He said: “Obviously it’s extremely disappointing after really putting myself in contention for the title.
“I was shattered after the 79 on Saturday and didn't understand where it came from.
“I looked back on my preparation which was spot on, I hit it great on the range and had a good night's sleep - it was all set up for a good day - it wasn't to be. There was also a stiff wind blowing and that didn't help matters much either.
“On Sunday I knew I had to shoot under par to keep my position and I didn't manage it with a 72. None of my putts wanted to go in the hole and I just didn't take my opportunities for birdies.”
While McGinley won the Wales Open in 2001, the Celtic Manor course has been completely redesigned for the 2010 Ryder Cup
More than €20 million has been invested in the Twenty Ten course, which is the first in history to be designed and built specifically for the Ryder Cup.
Welsh legend Ian Woosnam said: “The closing stretch is fantastic. Just as matches will be heading towards their climax, you’ve got two great match play par-fours at the 14th and the 15th.
“Then the 18th is a really cracking par-five to finish. You are going to be standing there, thinking shall I or shan’t I go for it?”
Harrington and McGinley are joined in the elite field by Rory McIlroy, Gary Murphy and 2008 winners Darren Clarke, Peter Lawrie, Graeme McDowell and Damien McGrane.