By Norman Dabell

MUNICH (Reuters) - Irishman Paul McGinley and Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal booked their places in the European Ryder Cup team on Sunday after their rivals failed to finish high enough in the final qualifying event.

The pair were assured of places in the top 10 of qualifiers after their three rivals, Paul Broadhurst, Johan Edfors and Thomas Bjorn, were unable to threaten the lead in the BMW International Open in Munich on Sunday and overtake them.

The final two wild-card picks of captain Ian Woosnam will be announced later on Sunday.

For Olazabal, much criticised for not playing in Munich in the final event to count for points, it will be an emotional return to the Ryder Cup fold when he plays at the K Club in Ireland from September 22-24.

"As far as the Ryder Cup is concerned it is welcome to the 21st century for me!" Olazabal told Reuters on Sunday on receiving the news he was in.

"I'm delighted but much more delighted because I've qualified, rather than needing to have a pick by Woosie.

"I now plan to be as much of a help as I can be to the captain, bearing in mind all my experience."

INFAMOUS INVASION

It is Olazabal's eighth Ryder Cup appearance but only the fourth time he has qualified, having been handed a wild-card four times.

The double Masters champion has not played since 1999, when he was a victim of the infamous invasion of the 17th green at Brookline, Massachusetts, as Europe lost for the only time in the last five encounters.

Eight-times European number one Colin Montgomerie was one of Olazabal's chief critics for not playing in Munich but the Spaniard insisted he had good reason for taking time off.

"I worked really hard to get into the team and mentally I was struggling," he said.

"I saw what Colin said. I think the criticisms were more lobbying for other players, though, than aimed against me."

McGinley, who holed the winning putt in 2002 at The Belfry, will now be able to play on home soil, not far from where he grew up, as he makes his third Cup appearance.

The Irishman, who is following a coaching session with his teacher Bob Torrance by playing in this coming week's Singapore Open, told Reuters: "It's a huge relief. I have been under a lot of pressure recently.

"I feel a huge weight has been lifted from me. Now I can get ready for one of the biggest weeks of my life without having to look over my shoulder.

"It's going to be a fantastic week and I'm happy to be a part of it."