Campbell has a liking for links

CONSIDERING the failure of the Irish contingent to keep the title at home for 22 years, it is more than a little surprising that Darren Clarke and Pádraig Harrington have been installed as favourites for the Nissan Irish Open beginning over the links at Baltray this morning.

Clarke, 9-1, and Harrington, 10-1, offer reasonable value but coming on the heels of a disappointing campaign so far for both men, the fear is that the barren spell will continue and that one needs to look further afield for the 2004 champion.

Holder Michael Campbell, at 12-1, is just one of a host of players to look out for, not least because he has been expressing a deep liking for the course. It looked an absolute picture yesterday for the pro-am with grandstands located at the 10th, 17th, 18th and practice ground and the course widely praised by all the players.