Murphy’s Law at Valderrama

GARY MURPHY believed he knew the Valderrama course well enough until he discovered the final hole played in the opposite direction he thought.

Murphy made the revelation as he finalised preparations for today’s starting Volvo Masters on the former Ryder Cup host venue in Spain.

He and fellow Irish golfer Peter Lawrie are making their debut in the season-ending event and join compatriots Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley chasing a Tour record-equalling 583,330 first prize cheque. The supposedly elite 60-player field, however, has been reduced by two with the absence of 2003 European Number One elect Ernie Els, along with compatriot and former back-to-back Number One Retief Goosen.