British Open: The jaunt was back in his stride as he came off the 18th green and finally Paul McGinley - hero of the Ryder Cup an age ago - didn't look as if he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

He didn't win the British Open at Sandwich yesterday, but he did so many things well. The grin that beamed out to those crowded in the grandstands was that of a man who again knew where he was headed in the golfing world.

Up to the French Open a month ago, McGinley had endured a tough time on the European Tour as he missed the cut in four tournaments and withdrew injured from another. Since then, he has hardly set the world alight but this was the fourth successive cut the Dubliner had made.

"God, that was a tough week, but I really enjoyed it. I've never played a tournament where there was so much skill involved in playing shots. It was very much a shot-maker's week, but it was so refreshing," said McGinley, who had a closing-round 73 to finish on eight-over-par 292, a shot behind Padraig Harrington, who had the distinction of being leading Irish player.

One aspect of McGinley's game that particularly pleased him was his putting. Not known as one of the strongest putters on tour, despite the pure putt he made to secure the Ryder Cup for Europe last September, he averaged 29.3 putts over the four days to rank fourth in that category. "I'm really upbeat about the way I putted," admitted McGinley.

He was upbeat when he arrived in Sandwich by helicopter on Tuesday afternoon and was even more upbeat when leaving last evening. "Like everybody, I felt a bit unprepared for the golf course," he said, "but I don't think you can prepare for a golf course that is running and playing as fast. I'd love to start the British Open again tomorrow morning but it is great for Portmarnock.

"It'd have been nice if we had played a links course before coming here but everybody understands the economy of the tour and the date immediately before the Open is the best week on the tour. We know the European Open would love to have that date but the Scottish Open have historically held it, and I don't see them giving it up. They've put a lot of money into promoting Loch Lomond and business comes into decision-making these days and the players understand that."

McGinley believes Portmarnock, where this week's Nissan Irish Open is being played, will be fairer than Sandwich. "You won't see the ball kicking off fairways the way it does here and the greens are relatively flat compared to here. This is the most difficult golf course I have ever played, not in terms of length or in terms of trouble everywhere but with the stiff wind we had for four days combined with a golf course that's running really, really fast, it came up with a tough package."

Later this week, McGinley will learn if he has been given a place in the US PGA championship at Oak Hill in Rochester next month but two dates definitely in his itinerary are the Irish Open and next week's Scandinavian Masters.

The highlight of McGinley's final round came on the seventh, where he hit a nine-iron approach of 159 yards and holed the 40-foot eagle putt.

Harrington - who finished with a 69 for seven-over-par 291 and tied-22nd place - also savoured the opportunity to play links golf. "Too often these days we play a game that is a test of lack of skill rather than a test of skill. This is what we need more of, where you need to make shots. Nearly everywhere we play everything is about heavy rough and when you go in there all you can do is have a swing at it and if it comes out, great. Here, you've to make the perfect shot, make the perfect strike and play it. I'm really looking forward to Portmarnock but, realistically, I've got to try to get my focus right. I am not playing brilliant golf and I have to just knuckle down and get the most out of it."

For Gary Murphy - who finished with a 73, including holing out his bunker shot on the eighth for a birdie, for nine-over-par 293 and tied-34th - his second appearance in a major provided a further indication he is moving in the right direction. Yesterday he played alongside US Masters champion Mike Weir. "If I could putt like Mike I'd be a millionaire too," quipped Murphy, who averaged 31 putts over the four days. "I got killed on the greens."

Darren Clarke had four birdies in the opening eight holes of his final round but from the time he four-putted from just off the ninth green for double bogey, it was all downhill. He finished with a closing 76 for 287. "It's the same old story. I'm playing terrible," said Clarke, who now heads on to the Irish Open. Of Portmarnock he said, "it's a fantastic course . . . but it is probably another one that is too difficult for me again the way I am playing."