NEWPORT, Wales -- The piece of floating bone has been removed from his left knee. Now Paul McGinley can get back to playing golf and making the Ryder Cup team.

The Irishman would be on the European team if it were selected now, but needs to consolidate his place. The process begins this week in the Wales Open at Celtic Manor.

McGinley won the Wales Open in 2001, providing the springboard for his elevation to the Ryder Cup team. He went on to make the winning putt for Europe at The Belfry.

Although he is seventh in the order for 10 automatic places to play the Americans at The K Club in Ireland Sept. 22-24, McGinley has struggled in his last five events -- missing four halfway cuts and retiring injured.

McGinley hurt his knee after just a few holes at the Irish Open two weeks ago and withdrew during a break for bad weather.

"I phoned the doctor at 1 o'clock and was in the operating theater at 4," he said Wednesday.

McGinley expects some pain but hopes his knee won't swell up. He plans to play next week's Austrian Open before the U.S. Open at Winged Foot.

McGinley says he is physically fit.

"But I'm not match fit in terms of getting the ball up and down, in terms of spatial awareness of where you are, that kind of thing," he said.

McGinley skipped last week's BMW Championship at Wentworth and had the stitches removed from his knee on Monday. "The doctor was very happy with what he saw. I don't foresee any more problems," he said. "Structurally and physically, my knee is very strong now."

Colin Montgomerie would be another Ryder Cup certainty if the team were named now.

After a string of poor performances recently -- seven missed cuts from nine events -- he needs to find some of his Ryder Cup magic on the greens.

Team captain Ian Woosnam played with Montgomerie in the final round of the BMW on Sunday, when the Scot shot 72 for a share of 53rd place. Woosnam believes there's little wrong with the Scot's game.

"He's fine," the Welshman said. "He hit a lot of good putts that just didn't go in."

Woosnam, who was assistant to captain Sam Torrance when Europe won at The Belfry in 2002, said he would try to be much calmer this time.

"I was driving around everywhere like a headless chicken," he said of his 2002 behavior. "That's what I felt like. I was very excited, like a young kid running around.

"But I don't think I will be this year because I think my role is different. I have to take a few deep breaths and slow down and think about it, take things a bit slower as if going in slow motion."

Europe has won four of the last five Ryder Cups, including a record-tying 18½-9½ victory at Oakland Hills in 2004.

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