Scene set for K Club combat

THE Smurfit European Open could hardly have scripted things better for their €3.4m championship beginning over the original Palmer North Course at The K Club on Thursday.

Fast on the heels of US Open champion Michael Campbell’s confirmation of his participation came Padraig Harrington’s magnificent victory in the Barclays Westchester Classic in New York on Sunday. So the two most recent winners on the US circuit and two of the most charismatic characters in the game head the entry for one of the European Tour’s flagship events.

The championship also boasts the presence of defending champion and world number five Retief Goosen, along with major names like recent BMW PGA Championship winner Angel Cabrera from Argentina and rival Ryder Cup captains Tom Lehman and Ian Woosnam.