Paul McGinley gave Ireland its first European Tour victory of the season when he coasted to a four stroke success in the OKI Pro-Am in Madrid yesterday.
The 30-year-old Dublin professional produced a final round of 69 at La Moraleja for a handsome 22 under par total of 266, that not only made him the eighth Irishman to win more than Stg £1 million on the circuit, but also elevated him to 20th place in the Volvo Ranking. He now has an outstanding chance of emulating his 1996 achievement and clinching a top 15 place and thus qualifying for the Open and US Open next season.
McGinley's sharpshooting in Madrid where he had an eagle and 22 birdies, was of the highest calibre, and his all round performance has, he believes taking his golf to a new level.
"I got my first victory in Austria last year by scoring a last round 62, and that was thrilling," he said. "But there was also relief that I had got a monkey off my back. This week was much more satisfying because of the quality of my all round game. I hit 67 out of 72 greens and that was a performance of significance."
McGinley, who has been somewhat overshadowed by Ryder Cup newcomer Darren Clarke, and Padraig Harrington this year, virtually secured the victory both of them have been seeking, with his third round 64. That was a magnificent exhibition of strokeplay, and his eight birdies, five of them in an inward 31, gave him a comfortable cushion of six strokes for the final leg. When he set out on another warm, sunny morning, and moved smoothly to an outward 32 yesterday, the contest was almost over.
McGinley holed from six yards at the third with the putter he had "borrowed" from Darren Clarke at St Andrews last week, and then collected a hat-trick with a series of superb strokes. His four-iron tee shot at the short seventh put him only five feet from the flag, while his 30 yard bunker shot at the long eighth, and 120 yard pitch to the ninth, left him putts of little more than a foot. He was eight strokes clear of the field at that point, but concern came from a surprising quarter.
Iain Pyman, a former Amateur champion, who had begun the week in 116th place in the money list, and in danger of losing his Tour card, had embarked on McGinley-type heroics
Out in 31 with five birdies, he added an eagle three at the 11th, and when he also birdied the 15th had reached 18 under par.
McGinley, who had made his first mistake of the week to bogey the 12th, lost another shot when he overclubbed to the 14th, and his lead was suddenly down to four shots. It was time to "batten down the hatches", and he did so securely. Pyman's charge petered out, although his 64 for 270 gave him second place worth £50,000 by three shots from New Zealander Greg Turner.
"I didn't need any heroics of my own," added McGinley, "so I erred on the side of prudence coming home, rather than aggression. I felt I had control all the time, and I wasn't going to let it out of my grasp at that late stage.
"My golf went to a new level this week and now I don't intend to rest on my laurels. I want to finish on a high note and do particularly well in the Volvo Masters this week," he said.
Ahead of McGinley is the Sarazen World Open at Atlanta, then the World Cup in Charleston where Harrington will be his partner. Then the former European Under-25 champion will be heading for a first appearance in the Hong Kong Open to which he will take his wife Alison, before putting away his clubs until the New Year.
Harrington shot 72 for 279 to finish joint 18th and his prize of £5,220 lifted him one precious place in the Volvo Ranking to 12th, with every prospect of improving on his 11th position last year when he contests the £1 million prize fund in Jerez later this week.
But Des Smyth will need to rely on his all-time money winnings category to play on the circuit next season, after closing his 1997 campaign with a 73 for 283 to be joint 43rd. He won £2,475 but that was not enough to improve his 123rd placing, six spots outside the 117 exempt players who will form the nucleus of the Tour in 1998.
