McGinley has last laugh at Adare Manor

PAUL McGinley had the last laugh at the exhibition match for the JP McManus Pro-Am at Adare Manor on Friday. McGinley missed the dinner the night before where Shane Lowry built up his chances with Pádraig Harrington against McGinley and Rory McIlroy in the charity fourball. Lowry had a gentle swipe at McGinley’s new hairdo, his relative lack of length off the tee and his rustiness from not playing regularly. When told, McGinley, 51, took the slagging in good spirits but his resolve to play his part in the match was evident. Birdies on seven and nine were vital and when McIlroy found water on the 18th, McGinley was the only player to find the green at the par five in three shots. Harrington’s seven-footer for a halved match was conceded but McGinley, as doughty as ever, had made his point.