Paul McGinley studied the figures in the media centre here at Firestone yesterday, consulted with his manager, Andrew Chandler, and decided to compete in this week's BMW International Open in Munich, the final qualifying event for the European Ryder Cup team.
Very strange things would need to happen to foil the Dubliner of a place in the side, but very strange things did, in fact, happen to Eamonn Darcy in similar circumstances 10 years ago. That was when Darcy opted to miss the final event and was squeezed out by David Gilford, by 58.26 points.
For things to go against McGinley - and he's better positioned than Darcy was - the outcome in Munich would have to involve Bernhard Langer making the cut, Phillip Price being second and Ian Poulter or Miguel Angel Jimenez winning the tournament. But for what could be the high-point of his tournament career, he wasn't prepared to take the risk.
He retains eighth place in the Ryder Cup table, 224,206 points ahead of 11th-placed Poulter and 195,280 ahead of Price in 10th place. "After studying the figures, I realise I'm 6,000 points short of being absolutely secure," he said last night.
McGinley added: "This is such a huge thing for my career than I feel I must defend my position in the table. I need a rest but the points are more important."
The strain of battle for Ryder Cup qualification eventually took its toll over the weekend. Having started here with a fine 68, he finished the tournament with a 72 for an aggregate of 284, 26th place and prize money of $51,000 .
"I played poorly and all I could do was keep battling," he said. "I put a helluva lot of effort into the last few weeks, especially in the USPGA in Atlanta and I'm a bit the worse for wear at the moment." Still, he is staying here to play in a pro-am this morning before returning home later.
Poulter broke his driver on the 16th tee and after resorting to the three wood went on to sink a 50-foot birdie putt for a round of 71 which delivered $100,500 for a share of 13th place. Then, before joining Darren Clarke in a private, Lear Jet bound for Washington DC, he said: "I love the pressure. It's all valuable experience, whatever happens in Munich."
Meanwhile, Padraig Harrington gave a performance totally out of character when finishing with a 72 for a one-under-par aggregate of 279 and prize money of $83,00. Indeed it was hard to credit that of all players, Harrington should have been so much as odds with his short game.
From seven under par after a birdie on the long second as Darren Clarke's playing partner on Saturday, he gradually slipped out of contention, covering his last 34 holes in six over par. In the process, an indifferent final round contained only two birdies, one of them a two-putt effort after he was on the long second with a five-wood second shot.
"I scored very badly and my putting was particularly poor," he said afterwards. Then with a wry smile, he went on: "That used to be my game, getting up and down. But it's not a mechanical problem. I've simply lost confidence in my chipping."
So, with only two tournaments on his schedule between now and the Ryder Cup, Harrington plans to spend quite some time on and around the practice green. His next assignment will be in the BMW in Munich and after a week's break, he will head for St Louis for the American Express Championship on September 13th to 16th.
"Though it may seem that I spend quite a bit of time practising, I have neglected my chipping in recent weeks," he added. "I certainly want my confidence restored before the Ryder Cup."
