Paul McGinley has pulled out of this week's Murphys Irish Open at Fota Island ­ to recharge his batteries.

The Dubliner has been playing poorly this season and needs to take a break to regain his form before the Ryder Cup in September.

He said: "Unless I take a break now, things will only get worse. I feel I need time off to rejuvenate myself for the rest of the season, and in particular the Ryder Cup."

McGinley complained of "exhaustion" and "loss of form" after missing the cut in the US Open at Bethpage State Park earlier last month before takingthe decision to miss the Irish Open for the first time.

"It is not a decision I took lightly, but, looking at the overall picture, it is for the best if I have an extra week off," he added

McGinley will definitely play in the Smurfit European Open at his home club, The K Club, next week.

But his loss of form has been a mystery.

He started the year brilliantly, finishing tied for 18th in the Masters before playing a major part in Britain and Ireland's Seve Trophy win over the Continent of European at Druids Glen.

Then he won the rain affected Irish PGA title at Westport before missing the cut in the Benson and Hedges International Open with a disastrous second round 81.

After missing the French Open he played average golf in the Volvo PGA at Wentworth and missed the cut there too.

Despite finishing 22nd in the victor Chandler British Masters he slumped to 66th in the Compass English Open before missing the cut again with another poor performance in the second Major of the year, the US Open.

McGinley will play in the Smurfit European Open at his home course, The K Club, before going on to the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond in the run-up to the British Open at Muirfield.

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© Brian Keogh 2002

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