Woosnam aiming to stay a cut above the rough

OF all the many great Irish Opens staged at Portmarnock, the 1989 championship which saw Ian Woosnam pip our own Philip Walton in a play-off, remains one of the most memorable.

The little Welshman is back again at one of his favourite venues, not really hoping to repeat his wins of 1988 and 89, but just to play well on a course for which he has the deepest admiration.

Woosie is 45 and complains of a few pains and aches, but for my money there remain few sweeter swingers of a golf club, especially when he launches into a full blooded tee shot or a long iron off a tight lie.