Close friends Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington suffered contrasting emotions today. While Harrington became the eighth man to seal his place in the Ryder Cup - the first one ever to be played on Irish soil - McGinley headed to the last place he wanted to see. Munich Airport.

Rounds of 75 and 72 at the BMW International Open sent the 39-year-old crashing out of the BMW International Open, the final qualifying event for the K Club clash in three weeks' time.

And while his hopes of lining up alongside Harrington remain extremely bright the crisis in confidence he is suffering understandably dominated his thoughts as he departed.

"It looks like there's tension, but honestly I don't feel it - I'm just not playing well," said McGinley, who has fallen from fourth to 10th in the points race this year and has had only one top 10 finish since January. "I'm struggling. My results show that. I'm trying my best, but it's not good enough. I've lost confidence and I've got to sort it out.

"I've been in the game long enough to know it turns around quickly. We all know how fickle form is. It will turn, it's a question when. Maybe the Ryder Cup will be the week."

Harrington thinks it might even be Monday if, as seems likely, McGinley's third cap is confirmed this weekend.

"When has he ever been right?" said McGinley with a smile. "But I hope to God that's the case. Two years ago I had a helluva lot more pressure on me and I came through it (his pursuit of a place went to the last hole of the last round then). It's just my game.

"I'm driving poorly and putting poorly, but it's not disastrous. It's not like I'm dogging it - I'm making birdies and it's not a million miles away."

Harrington, whose presence on the side became cast-iron when McGinley missed the halfway cut, spent more time discussing his fellow Dubliner than he did talking about himself.

"For nine months he's had a noose round his neck," he said. "The game's definitely beating him up at the moment. Golf is winning. I've chatted to him. I think he's over-trying and taking a bit too much to heart.

"I've been through it where you're digging so much that the best thing is to ease off a bit. But he's always been a guy who likes to feel he's up against it. I've spent years trying to cheer him up at the World Cup.

"I play my best golf having a chat. He will say he plays his best being determined. There's a fine balance, but I think he's just gone over it. He's talking to the ball in flight, telling it to go or come back.

"There's not much you can do about it then. I think a change of attitude would be far better than anything he can change in his swing."

McGinley, the player who sank the winning putt in 2002 and was unbeaten in Detroit two years ago, insists he will neither be glued to the golf on television the next two days nor seated at a computer following the fortunes of those who could yet knock him out.

As things stand, though, there is no need to panic yet.

That is because Colin Montgomerie, safely in the side weeks ago, remains on course for the top 47 finish on Sunday that would relegate Jose Maria Olazabal to 10th on the table and elevate McGinley to ninth.

And even if that does not happen Paul Broadhurst would have to finish in the top three - he is currently eight off the pace - Johan Edfors (six behind) first or second or John Bickerton, the final threat to McGinley's place, also missed the cut.

It is easy to forget this week those who are not fighting for the Ryder Cup, but still want to win the tournament.

Swede Martin Erlandsson, chasing his first victory, is the halfway leader on nine under by a stroke from compsatriot Mattias Eliasson, Dane Soren Hansen, Spain's Alejandro Canizares and cup qualifier David Howell.

Defending champion Howell, leader of the Order of Merit, added a 69 to his opening 67, while team-mates Luke Donald and Paul Casey are among those two back and Montgomerie is three behind.