There is nothing like having the opportunity to set the record straight and Paul McGinley will do just that this week when he returns to the Yalong Bay Golf Club on Hainan Island in an attempt to add the TCL Classic title to his golfing CV. It is an impressive document already, featuring four European Tour International Schedule victories, a World Cup success and three successive appearances in winning European Ryder Cup Teams, but the 40 year old Dubliner still harbours the belief that the 2005 TCL Classic should also be there.
A stunning course record equalling 63 in the final round two years ago looked to have set up victory in the inaugural tournament before his 22 under par total of 266 was equalled by England’s Paul Casey who went on to claim the spoils at the second extra hole where he rolled in a superb 25 foot birdie putt.
Now McGinley will aim to put that right and at the same time turn the consistency he has already shown this season – with weekend appearances in Qatar and Dubai on The European Tour and in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and the Nissan Open on the US PGA Tour – into a title challenging push on Saturday and Sunday.
In order to do that, the Irishman will have to contend with a Yalong Bay course featuring several subtle differences to the one faced by competitors 12 months ago.
“Although the fairways are still quite generous, the rough has grown up a lot higher than in previous years,” said Tournament Director Miguel Vidaor. “If you put the ball on the fairways you can score but if you miss them, you will definitely be penalised.
There has also been a lot of work done to the finishing holes which will test the mettle and resolve of any player coming down the stretch on Sunday afternoon with a narrow advantage.
Extensive tree clearing has enabled the back tee to be used on the 15th hole for the first time, making it now a testing 240 yard par three, while reshaping of the par five 16th has put the emphasis very much on getting the tee shot in the right place or going for the green in two will not be an option. Add to that the 427 yard, water-guarded 17th, and the 449 yard 18th, and it is obvious that every element of the game will be tested over the closing stretch.
As well as established players such as Nick Dougherty, Lee Westwood and McGinley, the 2007 TCL Classic will also feature a liberal sprinkling of up and coming talent from both the 2006 Challenge Tour Rankings and the 2006 Qualifying School.
Should they be in need of inspiration going into the event, they need look no further than last year’s tournament and the performance of Johan Edfors.
The Swede came through the 2005 Qualifying School and went on to win his maiden European Tour title in Sanya, four rounds in the 60s including a superb third round 63, giving him a 25 under par total of 263 and a one shot victory over Australian Andrew Buckle.
The success in China gave Edfors the confidence to push onwards and upwards and a fantastic season saw him win again in both The Quinn Direct British Masters and The Barclays Scottish Open and flirt with a place in The Ryder Cup, before finishing tenth on the Order of Merit.
“It was a dream come true for me,” he said. “At first, I mostly felt relieved. I had proved to myself and everybody else that I could compete at the highest level. It took a couple of days for everything to sink in and then I was euphoric.
“The win took a lot of pressure away from me. I knew I had a job for the next two years with the exemption and I could play a bit more relaxed. Of course, I was hoping to win one more tournament but two was more than I could have dreamed of.”
