Card in sight for Irish five left alive

Five Irish golfers, Waterville’s David Higgins, Ulstermen Chris Devlin and Gareth Shaw, Dubliner Niall Kearney and Yorkshire-born Simon Thornton, will be among a group of 150 hopefuls seeking 25 places on the 2013 European Tour when the final Tour School takes place over six days at the Catalunya complex near Barcelona beginning next Saturday.

It is regarded as one of the most nerve-wracking experiences in the game, with those who fail wondering just where they go from here. Indeed, Welshman Bradley Dredge, who lost to Pádraig Harrington in a play-off for the Irish Open at Adare Manor in 2007, is wondering if he will even take up the option should he come through.

Dredge, who has played 12 consecutive years on Tour, admitted: “If I do get a card I will weigh things up as to what I’m going to do.