Parnevik and Donald for Baltray

THE NISSAN Irish Open Championship received a significant boost yesterday with the confirmation that Jesper Parnevik and Luke Donald will both be in the field at Co Louth Golf Club, Baltray, on July 22-25.

Parnevik was rated as doubtful after he withdrew from the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond complaining of a shoulder injury. However, the problem has healed and he competes at Baltray on Wednesday and at the Scandinavian Masters in his native Sweden a week later.

Parnevik needs to commit himself to 11 counting tournaments on the European Tour to qualify for full membership and consideration as a "wild card" selection on the European Ryder Cup team.

Donald also plays full-time in the States but he, too, has to fulfil the 11 tournament obligation to qualify as a Tour member or as a candidate for the Ryder Cup. So he will also be in at Baltray.

Old rivals Nick Faldo and Sandy Lyle will clash once again on the great Louth links where recent heavy rain means that the rough is growing steadily.

The entries closed yesterday, with Faldo, who won at Killarney in 1990 and '91, and at Mount Juliet in '92, bidding to capture the title for a fourth time. Lyle bids for one of the few tournaments on the European Tour to have eluded him in an illustrious career.

Miguel-Angel Jimenez, a three-time winner this year, is in the field, as is the Dane, Thomas Bjorn, who lost in a play-off 12 months ago to New Zealander Michael Campbell at Portmarnock.

South African Trevor Immelman is regarded as one of the hottest young properties in the game at present and will be among the favourites for the event.

Ben Curtis, who emerged from golfing oblivion to win the Open Championship at Royal St Georges 12 months ago, has entered, along with the Australian Peter Leonard and "home" players like Phillip Price, Ian Poulter and Ian Woosnam.

As always, the home challenge is led by Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Graeme McDowell while among the current invitees are Michael Hoey, the American Ricky Barnes and Australian Nick Flanagan.

The amateur contingent includes Mark Campbell, who won the East of Ireland at Baltray this year; the Irish Open champion Craig Smith from Cardiff and James Heath, a protegee of Faldo's.