Irish look to avoid deep water in hunt for home improvement

SEVENTEEN Irish golfers face the starter as the 10th Smurfit European Open at The K-Club gets underway this morning.

On this occasion, however, the golfers have crossed the Liffey from the North to the new South Course and, quite naturally, there is considerable speculation as to how the pros will cope with a lay-out dominated by water hazards which account for a 10th of the 180 acres on the site.

The 16th and 18th, which boasts an island green, are two of the most feared and are sure to attract huge public interest.

Defending champion Phillip Price insists there are "no similarities" between the two lay-outs and added: "It's difficult to say which is the tougher. It was hard today in the wind off the back tees but the rough didn't seem as punishing as the other course."

One of the heroes of Europe's Ryder Cup triumph at The Belfry in 2002, when he scored a never-to-be- forgotten 3 and 2 win over Phil Mickelson, Price is now "such a long way off qualifying for this year's team that I don't know where I stand. I'm just waiting to play well, I'd love to play in the matches again and winning this week would help."

On the subject of the Shinnecock Hills course on the final day of the recent US Open, Price didn't pull his punches. "Too severe. They've gone to the limit before and this time they went so far over the limit that the powers that be should be changed. It was awful. When I was playing, the crowds hardly made a sound. They were laughing more than cheering. I can't see the point in that."

Phillip Price is not one to moan or complain without good reason. Let's hope he won't be in similar mood come Sunday night because in the expected demanding weather conditions, Arnold Palmer's new creation in Co Kildare could turn into a similarly frightening proposition.

The prospects for an Irish triumph on home soil probably rest on the shoulders of Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke, both of whom seem a little unsure about their current form, and Graeme McDowell and Paul McGinley, who have good reason to be buoyant after recent performances.

"I've got to get myself back up there," admitted Clarke.

"It's a different kind of stress playing at home, here I over-try and get frustrated," said Harrington.

On the other hand, Italian Open champion McDowell enjoyed his fifth top ten finish of the season in Paris at the weekend and on Monday McGinley shot a second round of 65 in the British Open qualifier at Sunningdale to see his way safely through to join Harrington, Clarke, McDowell and European Amateur Open and Irish Close champion Brian McElhinney at Royal Troon later this month.

Gary Murphy, Peter Lawrie and Damien McGrane, the other three Irish regulars on Tour, will see the week as an opportunity to retain their cards for next year.

For the remaining nine, it will be about making the cut and picking up as much money as they can over the weekend.

Former Walker Cup player Colm Moriarty from Athlone and Stephen Browne from Hermitage are on sponsors' invitations, while David Higgins, Damian Mooney, John Dwyer, Leslie Walker, Brendan McGovern, John Murray, Philip Walton and Neil Manchip represent the Irish Region of the PGA.