Higgins winding up for another Rolex victory

Charlie Mulqueen

Higgins has fond memories of his win in Switzerland. It was his third victory of 2000 and went some way to securing the 32-year-old second behind Sweden's Henrik Stenson on the Challenge Tour Rankings that season.

The Irishman is fourth on the current Rankings, and said he is determined to end the 2005 season as the Challenge Tour's Number One.

"The Rolex Trophy was my third win in 2000 and I was on a good run then," said Higgins. "I actually played that week with a new set of golf clubs because mine had gone missing at Heathrow Airport on the way to the tournament. I won with the new set of clubs so I must have been playing really well then.

"I was delighted to win, I got myself a nice Rolex watch and now I have to try and win my girlfriend one this week!" Higgins is joined at the Rolex Trophy, which features only the top 36 Challenge Tour players, by Belfast's Michael Hoey, while European Tour Member Stephen Browne returns to the Challenge Tour's second event this week the Skandia PGA Open.

Browne is celebrating the first anniversary of his maiden professional victory at the Norwegian Challenge Open this week, and is joined by Justin Kehoe, Colm Moriarty and Tim Rice at Arlandstad Golf Club.

Meanwhile Aaron O'Callaghan of Douglas, who next week begins his studies at East Tennessee State University, is one of four new caps in the Irish team for the Home International Championships at Royal St Georges, Sandwich, on September 7th-9th.

The other new caps are Irish Close champion Rory McIlroy (Holywood), North of Ireland champion Gareth Shaw (Lurgan) and Connor Doran (Banbridge).

The team is: D. Crowe (Dunmurry), C. Doran (Banbridge), R. Kilpatrick (Banbridge), P. Murray (Limerick), B. McElhinney (North West), M. McGeady (North West), R. McIlroy (Holywood), C. McNamara (Limerick), S. McTernan (Co. Sligo), A. O'Callaghan (Douglas) and G. Shaw (Lurgan).

Non-travelling reserves: S. Power (West Waterford) and B. O'Connor (Hermitage). Captain, M. Gannon (Co Louth).