AKRON, Ohio -- Resigned to the disappointing sum for which he signed, Paul McGinley dove deep into his cerebrum and ran through the scenarios in his head. Finally, his contorted face loosened ever so slightly and he let out a deep breath.

One of Europe’s steeliest Ryder Cup players realized that he was likely to qualify for the team again despite his struggles at the World Golf Championship-Bridgestone Invitational.

“The only way I can be knocked out now is if (Johan) Edfors wins this week (at the European Tour’s BMW Championship in Germany) and (Paul) Broadhurst finishes second, and that’s not likely to happen,” McGinley said. “I should be OK, I would think.”

McGinley wasn’t trying to diminish the playing ability of two of his fellow European Tour members. He was merely pointing out the fact that such an exact scenario presented much longer odds than the tricky task of trying to accurately select the daily double at a horse track.

Granted, he could have knocked out all contenders with a decent showing at last week’s Bridgestone Invitational, but the diminutive Irishman struggled all week on the long, green lines of Firestone Country Club’s South Course and ended up tied for 66th with a 14-over-par 294 total.

But another qualifier must be added here: McGinley forfeited a chance to cement his position on his third European squad by withdrawing from the 88th PGA Championship at Medinah Country Club after the death of countryman Darren Clarke’s wife, Heather, who succumbed after a lengthy battle with cancer. Given that he had finished 23rd the year prior at Baltusrol Golf Club, this was no minor decision.

“It wasn’t about me. It was about Darren and being there for him and paying our respects to Heather,” said McGinley, 39, whose wife, Alison, was especially close to Heather Clarke. “There was never a question for me what I should do or would do.”

But questions about his game linger in his mind right now. Winner of four European Tour titles, including the 2005 Volvo Masters, McGinley admittedly feels frustrated by his current form. “I haven’t had a big finish in a while. My game is just not there,” he said after a closing 72 at Firestone. “I’ve not had a big finish for a while now.”

McGinley (center), Darren Clarke (left) and Padraig Harrington celebrate after the 2004 Ryder Cup. (Getty Images)

Only twice has McGinley finished in the top 10 this year, and in his two major championship starts, at the U.S. Open and British Open, he missed the cut.

Nevertheless, it isn’t always about form in the Ryder Cup but what function a player can serve. McGinley is 2-1-3 in his six matches with a 1-0-1 record in singles. But he brings more to the table than game.

“I really didn’t know Paul very well until the Ryder Cup (in 2004),” said England's Luke Donald. “I knew a bit about his game, how solid he is. But I found him to be an inspirational sort of person to me, the way he helped me at the Ryder Cup and tried to make me feel comfortable. He is a great guy, very unassuming, very gracious. Having him on the team means a lot to our chances.”

McGinley left Firestone thinking a bit of inspiration from another player might help him in the coming weeks. He was paired with eventual winner Tiger Woods, the No. 1 player in the world, for the first two rounds.

“My game was nothing special, but it was a pleasure to watch the greatest player of our time for the first two days playing at his maximum best,” McGinley said. “That was a good thing to do. Hopefully, I can take a little bit of that with me.”