McGinley happy to be back

McGinley: sixth knee operation

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Paul McGinley will make his comeback from a persistent knee injury in Morocco this week, but concedes he is not expecting much from himself at the Hassan II Trophy.

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The problem required the 43-year-old Dubliner to undergo a sixth knee operation and McGinley admits he is still feeling his way back.

"I've been doing my utmost to get my game and fitness back, but I'm not going with any great expectations this first week," he said on the eve of the event at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam Golf Club.

"There was a lot more damage than I thought and the knee's still not great - that's the bottom line.

"But I'm so keen to get back playing and with really good physio and gym work the prognosis is quite good.

"My left kneecap has disintegrated quite a bit over the years and the cartilage is just about gone. There was a lot of debris they had to clear out."

McGinley first damaged his knee playing Gaelic football as a teenager, indeed, the broken kneecap he sustained forced him to quit the game and concentrate on golf.

His career went on to flourish and he has subsequently made three Ryder Cup appearances against America, emerging victorious on every occasion.

However, his last professional victory came at the 2005 Volvo Masters and, now down at 254 in the world, he endured the worst finish of his career on the European Tour money-list last season as he ended in 104th.

Struggles

However, McGinley feels his failure to resolve his knee problems played a big part in his struggles and hopes he can now rediscover his best form.

"In hindsight I do feel that carrying the injury through the second half of the season was a mistake and a contributing factor to me having such a poor season," he continued.

"I put off the surgery, but I knew I would have to have it done at some stage.

"And I've certainly got good value out of my West Ham season ticket while I've been unable to play!"

The obvious highlight of 2009 for him was leading Britain and Ireland to victory over Continental Europe, a role handed to him by Colin Montgomerie with this October's Ryder Cup in mind.

McGinley has not been named as a vice-captain yet because he does not want to rule out the possibility of making the side again, but first steps first - he is just glad to be teeing off for his 464th European Tour event.

McGinley's former Ryder Cup team-mates Darren Clarke, David Howell, Phillip Price, Thomas Bjorn, Thomas Levet and Niclas Fasth are also part of a field chasing a first prize of just over £200,000 in Morocco.