EUROPEAN TOUR/News round-up: Paul McGinley has made an immediate reappraisal of his demanding tour schedule and opted out of this week's €2.7 million Deutsche Bank-SAP Open TPC of Europe in Germany.
"I've just no gas left in the tank," said the Dubliner, who felt that such drastic remedial action was required after his performance at The Belfry where he missed his first cut on the European Tour in over 10 months.
In giving one of the richest tournaments on the European circuit a miss, McGinley is aiming to give himself some breathing space before returning for next week's Volvo PGA at Wentworth, a venue where he will have the added luxury of staying at home. "To be honest, I could have done with two weeks off after playing the two tournaments in Ireland (the Seve Trophy and the Irish PGA)," he said.
"I just felt so tired last weekend and, after such a bad second round, it was time to reappraise things. I was second there last year, so it was not the golf course's fault that I played so badly. There had to be another reason and I feel that I need to give myself a break and recharge the batteries," he said.
"I don't want to fall into the trap of playing too much and having no energy. I want to keep my appetite," added McGinley, who has decided that he will play the Volvo PGA and the following week's British Masters before taking a week off and, then, head to the US Open at Bethpage in New York.
He plans to have a new look at his schedule after the season's second major. As for this week? "I intend to do some practice on my game this week but, otherwise, just take it easy." While McGinley, who has dropped to 42nd in the latest world rankings, has changed his schedule in an attempt to regain his edge, Ireland's other top-two players Padraig Harrington - back up to ninth in the latest rankings - and Darren Clarke will be playing in the TPC, which starts on Friday. Des Smyth and Ronan Rafferty, still searching for his first successful cut of the season, are also entered in the field.
Harrington was also on corporate day duty yesterday - in London in his case - and plans to arrive in Germany today with the intention to "take it easy". His third place finish in the International Open at The Belfry earned him €91,252 - pushing his earnings on the European Tour so far this season to €402,088 and eighth place in the moneylist - but the player was still not entirely happy with the state of his game. "But then," he said, "I am never entirely happy with my game."
The pulling power of the TPC of Europe is reflected in the inclusion of Tiger Woods in the field in Heidelberg and, perhaps, with a view to this year's American Express world championship at Mount Juliet in September - where the world's number one is anticipated to make his first competitive appearance in this country - it is worth noting recent research in the US on the so-called Tiger factor indicates that all associated with a tournament in which he plays emerges a winner.
The research found: (1) A minimum 25 per cent increase across the board in attendance, concessions and souvenirs. "Before Tiger won here in '97, we had about 45 corporate skyboxes or corporate tents. Now we have 60," said Western Open tournament director John Kaczkowski.
(2) Added security and marshals. "When more than half your gallery is following him, you need extra marshals just for his group," said Byron Nelson Classic tournament chairman Frank Swingle.
(3) More first time fans. Maybe they don't know a bogey from a shank. Still, they go to the course because Tiger's there.
(4) A TV ratings increase of at least 50 per cent. "Tiger's a heck of a hitter to have in your television line-up," said Rob Correa, senior vice-president of programming for CBS Sports.
(5) A greater demand for tickets. This year, the Genuity Championship in Miami had a 70 per cent increase in advance sales after Tiger announced he was participating one week before the first round. The Memorial Tournament, a traditional Tiger stop, has a waiting list of more than 1,000 for season tickets.
Then there's the Tiger carryover. Buick Classic tournament director Peter Mele said there's a 20 per cent increase in advance sales for this year's tournament because Tiger played at Westchester last year. He's not scheduled to play in the tournament this year.
Meanwhile, far away from the Tiger factor, this week's AIB Irish Seniors Open - which starts at Adare Manor on Friday - will have American Bruce Fleisher attempting to reclaim a title that he won two years ago. Japan's Seji Ebihara is the defending champion while Christy O'Connor Jnr, who has played seven tournaments on the US Seniors Tour this season, heads the Irish challenge.
EUROPREAN ORDER OF MERIT - Irish Positions: 8, P Harrington €402,088; 30, P McGinley €191,233; 40, D Clarke €160,889; 154, D Smyth €25,601; 185, M Hoey €12,951; 194, P Walton €10,725; 231, D Higgins €3,973; 247, E Darcy €2,644.
1 T Woods (USA) 15.90 pts ave
2 P Mickelson (USA) 9.47
3 E Els (Rsa) 7.89
4 R Goosen (Rsa) 7.50
5 S Garcia (Spa) 7.05
6 D Duval (USA) 5.97
7 D Toms (USA) 5.86
8 V Singh (Fij) 5.65
9 P Harrington (Rep of Ire) 4.76
10 C DiMarco (USA) 4.75
11 D Love III (USA) 4.47
12 A Cabrera (Arg) 4.35
13 R Mediate (USA) 4.31
14 D Clarke (N Irl) 4.22
15 M Weir (Can) 4.06
16 J M Olazabal (Spa) 4.03
