McGinley declines option of travelling early to US
Ryder Cup star Paul McGinley declined the option favoured by many of his contemporaries in embarking early for next week's US Open, preferring instead to travel to Austria.
Recent knee surgery had some influence on his decision but the Irishman was also keen to return to the country where he recorded his maiden European Tour win 10 years ago.
That was the last time the main tour was in Austria but it has returned this year for the BA-CA Open at Fontana Golf Club in Oberwaltersdorf on the outskirts of Vienna - and the tournament will remain be on the schedule for the next two years.
McGinley has fond memories of the country and despite not having made a cut on the European circuit in four events (he retired in one) since March's TCL Classic in China he remains upbeat.
He said: "It was a great tournament for me (in 1996). It was a dream to win my first tournament, shoot 62 and win by one.
"It is very good to see Austria back on the agenda again. It was a sad day when it left the European Tour.
"My knee is not 100% but, like a footballer needing games to get match fit, I need some tournaments under my belt. Mechanically it is in good shape now but it is getting the confidence to get on my left side but I have got to play now to work my way back to fitness.
"I played last week in Wales and I had a little bit of swelling and stiffness but I am another week down the road and three weeks since surgery.''
Most of Europe's leading players are already in America ahead of the US Open at Winged Foot in New York, with McGinley's Ryder Cup team-mates Paul Casey, Ian Poulter, David Howell and Thomas Levet playing in last week's Memorial tournament.
Padraig Harrington will defend his Barclays Classic title this week in a field which also contains Howell, Levet, Poulter as well as Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell but McGinley was not tempted to join them.
The 39-year-old added: "I could have played in America this week but felt with the way my knee is it was important to stay closer to home and play in a country that has been good to me in the past.
"I just felt it was better preparation for me than going over to America on the back of my injury."
