Paul McGinley will return to the scene of one of his best-ever rounds when he takes part in next week's TCL Classic in China.

　　The Irish ace thrilled the galleries with a closing 63 at the 2005 event before losing a dramatic playoff with England's Paul Casey.

　　McGinley has confirmed he is heading back to Yalong Bay Golf Club in Sanya, on the southern island of Hainan, for another crack at the title.

　　"That 63 was one of the best rounds of my career considering that I had to shoot it to get into a playoff," he said.

　　"Scores like that tend to happen when you feel good on the course and that's exactly how I was. It's one of the best courses I have played for a long time.

　　"Losing the playoff wasn't quite as painful as it might normally have been because I had had to shoot really low to get there in the first place.

　　"But no golfer ever likes finishing second and I'll be doing everything I possibly can to go one better this time."

　　Ryder Cup star McGinley is the latest addition to a powerful European challenge at the US$1 million TCL Classic, to be staged at Yalong Bay on March 16-19.

　　Current European No.1 David Howell, defending champion Casey and rising star Nick Dougherty have already confirmed they will be taking part.

　　The event - promoted once again by Parallel Media Asia - is co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours.

　　McGinley, winner of last year's season-ending Volvo Masters at Valderrama, Spain, is looking for a good display at Yalong Bay to kickstart his season.

　　"My game isn't exactly where I would like it to be at the moment but, there again, that's golf," he said.

　　"Hopefully all the hard work will be rewarded fairly soon and it would be great if everything clicked together again by the time I get to China."

　　McGinley can take heart from his display at Yalong Bay a year ago.

　　His brilliant final round included five consecutive birdies on the back nine as he charged up a crowded leaderboard to catch Casey.

　　The pair finished the regulation four rounds tied on 22-under, just one shot ahead of Denmark's Thomas Bj鰎n, Chawalit Plaphol of Thailand and Korean Kang Wook Soon.

　　After having putts for the win at both the last hole of regulation play and the first playoff hole, Casey found the heart of the cup with a spectacular 25-foot birdie effort on the second extra hole.

　　McGinley will be one of at least 15 players who have won a European Tour event taking part in the 2006 TCL Classic as the tournament cements its status as one of China's leading annual sports events.

　　China's top two players, Zhang Lian Wei and Liang Wen Chong, have also been confirmed for the tournament.

　　ENDS