Golf: Harrington Seals Ryder Qualification

Padraig Harrington became the eighth man to seal his place in the Ryder Cup at the BMW International Open in Munich today after Paul McGinley missed the halfway cut.

Rounds of 75 and 72 sent the 39-year-old McGinley crashing out of the final qualifying event for the K Club clash in three weeks' time. However, he is still highly likely to seal an automatic place in the team because Colin Montgomerie, safely in the side weeks ago, remains on course for the top 47 finish on Sunday which would relegate José-Maria Olazabal to 10th on the table and elevate McGinley, to ninth.

However, the crisis in confidence McGinley is suffering dominated his thoughts afterwards. "It looks like there's tension, but honestly I don't feel it - I'm just not playing well," said the Irishman, who has fallen from fourth to 10th in the points race this year and has had only one top 10 finish since January.

McGinley also struggled to qualify for the 2004 team, his pursuit of a place going to the last hole of the last round. However, he went on to have a successful tournament in which he didn't lose a game.

"Two years ago I had a hell of a lot more pressure on me and I came through it," he admitted. "It's just my game. I'm driving poorly and putting poorly.

"My results show that I'm struggling. I'm trying my best, but it's not good enough. I've lost confidence and I've got to sort it out. I've been in the game long enough to know it turns around quickly. We all know how fickle form is. It will turn, it's a question when. Maybe the Ryder Cup will be the week."

Harrington's thoughts were also with his fellow Dubliner in his post-round press conference. "For nine months he's had a noose round his neck," he said. "The game's definitely beating him up at the moment. Golf is winning. I've chatted to him. I think he's over-trying and taking a bit too much to heart. I've been through it where you're digging so much that the best thing is to ease off a bit. But he's always been a guy who likes to feel he's up against it.

"I play my best golf having a chat. He will say he plays his best being determined. There's a fine balance, but I think he's just gone over it. He's talking to the ball in flight, telling it to go or come back. There's not much you can do about it then. I think a change of attitude would be far better than anything he can change in his swing."