Ryder Cup Tickets

Paul McGinley’s quest for a Ryder Cup

Paul McGinley’s quest for a Ryder Cup place took an early blow at the Saint-Omer Open having falling four shots off the lead after nine holes.

The Irishman carded two bogeys - the par-three 11th and the par-four sixth - after teeing off from the 10th, but clawed one shot back with a birdie at the par-four 16th.

He holed out from about eight feet on the 18th to be one over at the halfway stage of the first round.

McGinley is way down the rankings for a spot in Nick Faldo’s team and is competing against the European Tour minnows this week having failed to qualify for the US Open.

The sunshine of San Diego was a far cry from soggy St Omer, awash with rain, but several other players coped better with the inclement conditions.

Mikko Korhonen of Finland shares the lead on three under with 2006 champion Argentinian Cesar Monasterio, while Australian David Bransdon is two under through seven holes.

Korhonen birdied three holes on the front nine, while Monasterio birdied both par threes and posted an eagle on the par-five seventh. A bogey on the par-four sixth marred an otherwise stunning front nine.

Peter Fowler, the Australian who tied for third at the Austria Open last week, was one over after 11 holes.

Englishman Gary Emerson, who won the Russian Open in 2004, was forced to retire early on with a back injury.