McGinley calls for rankings changes

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June 4, 2009

Paul McGinley has called on the powers-that-be in golf to “wake up” and change the world ranking system.

Paul McGinley has called on the powers-that-be in golf to “wake up” and change the world ranking system.
McGinley spoke after kicking off his bid for a first win in four years with a three under par 68 in Thursday’s first round of the Wales Open at Celtic Manor, an event featuring only three of the game’s top 50.
“It’s a problem, there’s no doubt about it,” said the 42-year-old Dubliner, who is expected to be one of Colin Montgomerie’s assistants at the Ryder Cup at the this Celtic Manor course next year if he is unable to qualify for the team.
“In these economic times all sponsors are facing the same problem of getting top players to play and in my opinion the world ranking system does not reward guys who play a lot of tournaments.
“At the end of the day we have to have better fields – it’s very important.
“I understand the big picture. All contracts are tied in with the world rankings and they determine who gets into events.
“At present the system rewards players who play only 20 tournaments a year and we should be encouraging guys to play more.
“I am not a mathematician, but we’ve got to find a system that does not penalise players for the amount they play.
“Everybody is reluctant to change for some reason, but we have to wake up and find a way around it.”
The rankings are determined on points average over a rolling two-year period, and much was made of the fact in April that American star Davis Love missed out on The Masters because he did not get any points in the last week of qualifying whereas if he had not played he would have made it to Augusta.
Amazingly McGinley hit back from an early triple bogey seven to be only two behind leader Gregory Bourdy.
The Frenchman still had four holes of his opening round to play, but already in the clubhouse on four under were Dutchman Taco Remkes and Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal who, five days after having a sextuple bogey nine on a par three, holed-in-one at the 192-yard seventh.
Bourdy’s compatriot Christian Cevaer, winner of the European Open on Sunday, pulled out after 12 holes complaining of dizziness.
Irish Open winner Shane Lowry, playing his second professional event after becoming just the third amateur to win a European Tour title, was heading for a second successive missed cut following a six over 77.
“Horrendous,” he said. “I don’t know what happened – I was in about 10 bunkers and it’s very difficult when you are doing that.”
Ryder Cup captains Colin Montgomerie and Corey Pavin were among the later starters.
FOOTNOTE: Wrexham’s Tim Dykes, offered a place in the Wales Open on Monday night after he had set off from home for a Challenge Tour event in Austria, made his presence felt with an opening 68 at Celtic Manor on Thursday.
The 28-year-old, who made the halfway cut in all his three starts on the circuit last season, said: “I was in the car on the M40 when my phone rang. My dad took the call and it was an easy decision to make.”