Paul McGinley's faltering bid to qualify automatically for the Ryder Cup suffered another blow today after he signed for an opening 74 to be six shots off the overnight lead at the Saint-Omer Open.

While the game's leading lights battle it out at US Open at Torrey Pines, southern California, McGinley was in a rain-soaked Switzerland hoping to boost his standings on the European standings.

But a three-over 74 will do little to help him improve from 29th on the European list and the Dubliner will now have his work cut out simply to make the cut tomorrow evening.

Battling driving rain, he posted two bogeys in the first nine holes after teeing off from the 10th but pulled one back with a birdie at the par-four 16th.

He holed an eight-foot putt for par on the 18th green to stay one over at the halfway stage, but slipped back with bogeys on the second, fourth, seventh and eighth holes.

A birdie on the par-four fifth typified an inconsistent round, and on the ninth green the 41-year-old's long putt for eagle went agonisingly close, but a tap-in birdie saved some grace.

"It was a disappointing score, I just made silly mistakes," said McGinley who three-putted three times and hit a ball out of bounds in a forgettable round.

"I struggled with the pace of the greens and I made the wrong decision in trying to go for the seventh green and hit OB," he added.
   
"I still have plenty of time to make something of this week, though."
   
Gareth Maybin is best of the six Irishmen in the field after his opening one-under 70. That leaves the Ballyclare native two off the overnight lead held by little-known Finn  Kakko Roope (68).

Michael Hoey shot 73, one better than David Higgins and McGinley, while Stephen Browne and Colm Moriarty both carded 75s.