BMW International Open: Paul McGinley's main motivation for following up his third place in the last week's NEC Invitational at Firestone is to seal his place in next month's World Matchplay Championship at Wentworth.
With guaranteed prize money and the biggest winner's cheque - £1 million - in golf, the event offers competitors the chance to make significant ground in the Ryder Cup qualifying race which gets under way in Switzerland in seven days' time.
"It's a tournament I have not played in before and at the moment I'm in a strong position to play that," said the Dubliner, who currently occupies one of the two spots on the Order of Merit which guarantee a place in the field at Wentworth.
"It's an important event to play in because there is a lot of money at stake. It counts for the Order of Merit but more importantly it counts for Ryder Cup points.
"Obviously next year in Ireland is a big deal for me, and next week the points start.
"One of the things I was well aware of last week was that I was 47th in the world rankings and needed to stay inside the top 50, with a lot of big events coming up. I had to consolidate my position and make sure I didn't drop out and miss those, because they all count for the Ryder Cup, and it's a huge headstart if you can play in those."
McGinley moved up to 35th in the rankings on the back of his third place behind Tiger Woods at Firestone - but he was left to reflect on what might have been.
The 38-year-old finished just two shots behind Woods after a double bogey on the 12th in Sunday's final round, where he three-putted from just five feet.
"My concentration and mental application was great for 98 per cent of the round last week but that two per cent cost me," he admitted. "It's a learning process. It's the first time I've really contended in a serious world event.
"I haven't won as many tournaments as I should have won. I don't think I've backed out of any situations - but I need to get my win ratio higher. I've only won three events on the European Tour, and it's not enough for the success I've had."
Meanwhile, McGinley tees off today in the BMW International Open, at Golfclub Munchen Nord-Eichenried, but won't be treating the German event as "a jaunt", despite having the former Formula One boss Eddie Jordan as his caddie.
"We have been friends for 15, 20 years and he has been on and on for years wanting to caddie for me," McGinley explained.
It was a big decision, but McGinley decided this would be the week after consulting with his regular bagman and fellow Irishman Darren Reynolds.
"When he finally sold his company he became unemployed, and I said I would employ him for a week. It has taken on greater significance now after last week, and that all adds to it.
"This is not going to just be a jaunt, having a friend on the bag and having fun - we're here to play well."
Whether Jordan can make the difference this week remains to be seen, but the multi-millionaire is taking his new role seriously.
"I realise there is a lot at stake," he said. "We've discussed some things which may or may not be helpful. Paul has alluded to concentration - we've got to do this for 72 laps, not 70. The analogy is there. You can't afford to spin in the middle of the 70th lap."
McGinley may have a clear idea of how he wants to retain his Ryder Cup place, but US-based Luke Donald is in two minds, though he insists he will retain his full European Tour status.
The 27-year-old Englishman was persuaded to play the mandatory 11 European Tour events by Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer and former Tour chief Ken Schofield to ensure he had full rights to qualify for last year's Cup campaign.
While Donald failed to qualify for the team via the ranking tables, he did enough to earn one of Langer's two wild-card picks.
"I will have to sit down and think how much I want to play over here," the world number 15 said yesterday as he prepared for today's start in Munich.
"Hopefully I will be playing well enough whereby my world ranking will take care of itself, but I will definitely be playing 11 events on the European Tour."
Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez, despite a sore throat, will be trying to become the first player to retain the BMW International Open when he tees off today.
World number 11 Padraig Harrington and American John Daly, who finished second and first respectively at the 2001 tournament, are also expected to contend strongly this week.
