Harrington goes in to bat for Baltray

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON wants to vox-pop as many of the 156-strong field as he can at this week's Nissan Irish Open and ask them to place the links of Baltray in their order of favourite courses.

And he's very confident that the reaction will be entirely favourable.

Most of the great Irish seaside courses have hosted the championship. This is its first visit to Co Louth and if the elements the early arrivals encountered yesterday are anything to go by, then the players have a testing few days ahead. An appreciable wind blew in from the Irish Sea and it was cold and showery. In those circumstances, Gary Murphy, the Irish pro who lives less than a three-minute walk from the first tee, expects a winning score of around six under par. If the wind is of little significance, however, he predicts 15 to 18 under.

Harrington used to play Baltray on most Wednesdays during his amateur days and gained a great liking for the course. He says local knowledge will be on his side this week, but doesn't believe it will be decisive. He played five holes yesterday before escaping from the weather only to spend four hours on the practice range.

However, having renewed his acquaintance with the course, some happy memories came flooding back.

"I would rate the fifth among the best short holes in the world," he said. "It's a superb par three, only around 175 yards in distance, so it's not a beast of a golf hole. The seventh is another par three. They're as good as you'll see anywhere. Nine is a strong par four, one is a reasonably tough opening hole. Fourteen I like as a par four. I like holes that are not 480 yards, par four, I like the short and dangerous holes that make you think more. If you play the par threes here in level par for the week, you'll be on to a good thing."

He says Baltray is "a true links course with no need to compare it to any other".

"Players are saying it's the best links they've ever played and that says a lot. It's very fair and enjoyable. I'd love to line up the 156 players at the end of the week and see if any had a bad word to say. I don't think it's possible. It has maintained the majority of its links feel over the years. It is very linksy, as linksy as last week at Troon and if anything, a little firmer around the greens."

There is a view abroad that the Irish Open is no longer a flagship event on the European Tour, that the prize money has failed to keep up with tournaments like the Volvo Masters, the Volvo PGA, the Deutsche Bank TPC and the Smurfit European Open and the date immediately after the Open Championship means the field is lacking quality in depth. While not dismissing that completely, Harrington is satisfied that players staying away doesn't demean the tournament.

"It's one of the most popular with the players," he insisted.

"A lot of good players turn up even if we are missing out on the very elite players who have a worldwide schedule and don't feel they can fit it in after the Open. This would rank up there as the number one event on the Tour.

"People come here expecting to get a great golf course and expect to enjoy their week. They don't see an atmosphere at regular events like they get here. The players appreciate the buzz. Even the guys who don't play well enjoy their week. It's one of those where guys come hoping to play well and if they don't, then it's a good week for a holiday. A lot of tournaments are hard work for the players. But never the Irish Open."

Gary Murphy spent several hours yesterday afternoon working on his game with Scottish swing guru Bob Torrance. He is hopeful of another Irish Open performance - he was leading home player last year in a share of 11th - not least because he has married into the legendary Reddan family in the village and has a great local following.

He says Baltray is a "traditional links" and hopes the wind makes its presence felt.

"Hopefully technology won't blow Baltray away," he muses.

"It won't be a driver-fest, which a lot of tournaments are and accuracy is not a factor. It's going to place a demand on every aspect of your game. Local knowledge will help if I'm playing well because I'll have the crowd on my side and even that presents different challenges. It's a different course to what they play in the East of Ireland. It's like night and day."

Meanwhile, defending champion Michael Campbell begins his defence tomorrow in the company of Ireland's Graeme McDowell and the Dane Anders Hansen. They are off the 10th tee at 9.50am and start off the 1st on Friday at 2.30pm.

Darren Clarke, winner of the Irish Close and East of Ireland Championships at Baltray in his amateur days, plays with the Australian Peter Lonard and in-form Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez off the 10th at 9.40am tomorrow and the 1st at 2.20pm on Friday..

Other attractive three balls include: 10am (Thurs), 10th, 2.40 (Fri) Ian Poulter, Luke Donald, Kenneth Ferrie; 10.10 and 2.50, Nick O'Hern, Sandy Lyle, Niclas Fasth; 2.20 (Thurs), 1st, and 9.40 (Fri), Nick Faldo, Jean-Francois Remesy, Gary Murphy; 2.30 and 9.50, Philippe Lima, Padraig Harrington, Ben Curtis; 2.40 and 10am, Paul Lawrie, Trevor Immelman, Paul McGinley.