Battling Paul McGinley recovered from the brink of disaster to keep his Open hopes alive at sunny Muirfield.

The struggling Dubliner was three over par after eight holes but played the last ten in two under for a 72.

At one over par he is still in the hunt for the title despite failing to take advantage of perfect conditions.

He said: "It was a scrappy round of golf but 72 is good for the way I played. It wasn't very pretty and I battled really, really well. I'm pleased with my 72."

McGinley hit the narrow first fairway but pushed his second into a bunker to go one over straight away.

"It wasn't the best start after a lovely drive, but I got it back together later," he said. "For the way I played it's a good score. It's not a disaster by any means. My game is not where I want it to be but it's not in bad shape. It's okay and it will get better with competition."

McGinley feels that he has put his recent slump behind him and is now on the way back to his best in time for the Ryder Cup.

"It's more a feel thing than something technical. Now that I've got my technique sorted out it's a question of getting back into it. I'll be all right."

"I was hoping for better than 72. We had ideal conditions being out at eight o'clock. But I'm actually quite pleased because I haven't blown myself out of the tournament. It's not by any means a disaster."

After missing from six feet for par at the first, McGinley then pulled his drive into the hay at the par five fifth to go two over.

A one-iron tee shot into deep rough at the eighth forced him to chip out sideways again and card another bogey.

But he bounced back well, holing from 15 feet at the par five ninth for birdie before hitting a nine-iron to 12 inches for another at the 11th.

His joy was short-lived. Bunkered at the 191 yard 13th, he had to come out sideways again and two-putt from 60 feet.

He got that shot back by hitting a seven iron to 15 feet at the 14th but couldn't squeeze another birdie out of the closing holes.

Explained McGinley: "The scores aren't going to be that low because there is a lot of trouble out there. It's still tricky enough. If you miss a fairway, you're in hay and it's a question of chipping out. There is not question of going for the green.

"I did that four times today, went in the hay and dropped three shots out of it. It's a good test of golf and I enjoyed it.

"I would like to have played better but overall a 72 was a good score for the way I played."

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© Brian Keogh 2002

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