Carton’s Cuppers runneth over

WITH so many of their top players turning their sights towards the US Tour with all its wealth and perks, the European Tour is finding it increasingly difficult to put fields together that will attract serious public interest.

Fortunately, there is still sufficient strength in depth in Europe to keep most sponsors happy and certainly Nissan Ireland chief Gerard O'Toole must be pleased by the presence of seven of the successful 2004 Ryder Cuppers in the entry for the Irish Open at Carton House this week.

They are led by Colin Montgomerie, whose 'inland links' at Carton will be scrutinisedby his fellow players. Very few will have set eyes on the Montgomerie creation before today but the word is out that it is a 'monster' and that if unfavourable weather conditions prevail, a number of tees could be pushed forward.