McGinley ready for comeback
McGinley ready for comeback
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Wednesday, 31, May 2006 08:29
Ireland's Paul McGinley has insisted that he is ready to make his injury comeback at the Wales Open tomorrow and use it as a launchpad onto the Ryder Cup team.
McGinley missed the BMW Championship at Wentworth last week after withdrawing during the first round of the Irish Open to have surgery to remove a piece of floating bone in his left knee.
It was his fourth operation on the knee but he insists he is ready to return at Celtic Manor and push on to secure a place on the European team for September.
"I feel it's strong enough to take a chance and play this week as the operation and physio has gone really well and there was as little trauma caused to the knee as possible," McGinley said.
"Of course the Ryder Cup is part of it as I am in a strong position and I want to be on the team but I have still to make more points."
The Irishman has added incentive to make this year's Ryder Cup squad as it is being held at the K Club near Dublin.
McGinley is still inside the automatic qualifying positions but a host of top golfers, including Luke Donald, Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke, are all sitting outside and are eager to secure their ticket for September.
However, despite wanting to be back as quick as possible, the 39-year-old is taking no chances with the injury and he knows how far he can push himself.
"Everything has been done with a mind to getting back as quickly as possible but I've had five knee operations now, four on the left and one on the right, so I know how to recover and I will not take any chances if it flares up again," McGinley added.
"I am pretty positive that things are going to work out though as I played six holes yesterday and hit 20 balls and there was minimal swelling."
McGinley will be hoping to repeat his success at the Wales Open, having won the tournament in 2001.