Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington have soldiered along a familiar path for much of the past decade, sharing the good times in World Cups and Ryder Cups as well as savouring individual deeds. Yet, on Sunday evening, the two departed Wentworth - each looking forward to a week away from tournament play - with quite different journeys and problems to be addressed before their next competitive assignment.

Of the two, McGinley was by far the more frustrated.

Now down to 133rd in the world rankings, McGinley has decided to take a two-week break which will only be interrupted next Monday when he will play in the International Qualifying for the US Open at Walton Heath, outside London.

If he comes through that, then his next tournament appearance will be in the season's second major at Oakmont in western Pennsylvania.

This week, McGinley and family are headed for a short holiday in Portugal, so missing out on the Wales Open at Celtic Manor, and he won't be playing in next week's Austrian Open either, as his daughter, Niamh, is making her first communion.

So, it is with hope as much as anything that McGinley will chase that qualifying spot for the US Open.

Currently, he is suffering from a severe lack of confidence. "I haven't got any feel and, even when I hit a good shot, it doesn't feel well. I am just not in sync, not at all. It's not much fun battling, to be honest, and there is no way I can compete at a high level," said McGinley, who intends to squeeze in time with his coach Bob Torrance after attempting to qualify at Walton Heath.

"I'm making all the cuts, which is pretty impressive given the way I am playing, which I wasn't managing to do last season when I was playing poorly.

"You know, I just don't see any light at the end of the tunnel. But I know from experience how quickly it can turn around. I know what I want to do but I am just not doing it at the moment. It is hard work, and that's what it will be over the next few weeks as I try to get my game back into shape."

While McGinley's immediate itinerary is uncertain, Harrington knows exactly where he is headed. His next tournament will be next week's St Jude Classic in Memphis, before he plays in the US Open the following week. At this stage, Harrington is the only Irish player in the field for Oakmont, although McGinley, Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell and Gary Murphy are entered for the international qualifying at Walton Heath in their efforts to join him there.

Although he has a week away from tournament play, Harrington won't be able to rest entirely. Today, he is due to play Carnoustie, the host course for this year's British Open, and tomorrow he will be in Dublin to officially launch the new course he has designed in Clonmel.

The reasons for Harrington's visit to Carnoustie are two-fold: one, to fulfil a sponsor's day with Wilson, his clubmakers; and, secondly, to have a look at the way the course is being set-up for the British Open in July. Harrington played in the 1999 Open over the Scottish links and, of course, has also played it during the Dunhill Links, a tournament he has won twice in three years.

"The golf course we play at the Dunhill is not anything like the course we'll play at the Open championship. You might as well be on the moon if you're trying to compare it. There is just no comparison. I'd like the course to be linksy (in July). I know you're going to have to hit the fairways to play the course well and to hit the fairways you've got to be perilously close to the fairway bunkers. But it'll be good to get an early look at the set-up," he said.

Unfortunately, Harrington hasn't managed to sneak in a reconnaissance trip to Oakmont. "All I hear is that it is very tough," said Harrington, who nevertheless believes that he will have plenty of time the week of the tournament to familiarise himself with the course.

Harrington is playing the St Jude because he prefers to play the week before a major and plans on getting to Oakmont on the Sunday night before the US Open.

One man who definitely won't be headed for Oakmont is Peter Lawrie, who has decided not to play in next week's International Qualifying.

"To be honest, I think it would take too much time out of the European Tour schedule, so I will stick to what I know here in Europe for the time being," said Lawrie, whose top-15 finish in the BMW Championship at Wentworth has all but assured him of his card for next season and, with the season just half-over, allows him to kick on in his quest to guarantee a place in the Volvo Masters.

Lawrie is playing in the Wales Open this week - where he will be accompanied by Graeme McDowell, Simon Thornton, Damien McGrane and Gary Murphy - before heading on to next week's Austrian Open.

Meanwhile, there will be a strong Irish contingent at the Oceanico Challenge Tour event at Worsley Park outside Manchester this week where Michael Hoey continues his strong challenge to secure a tour card on the main circuit next season.

He is joined in the field by David Higgins, Stephen Browne, Damian Mooney and Michael McGeady.