Golfing masters thrill at Doonbeg

IT had to have been the greatest free party of the year so far.

Close to 3,000 people, far more than envisaged, turned up yesterday for the official opening of the magnificent new links at Doonbeg, where course architect Greg Norman defeated Padraig Harrington by two and one and was six under par for the 17 holes.

Not that the result mattered. It was an occasion to savour for the people of west Clare, who were enthralled by the presence of a pair of master golfers.