Goosen's stroll down easy street

THE MANY who claimed beforehand that level par might be good enough to win the Smurfit European Open left here last night more than a little red-faced.

288 would, in fact, have been good enough only for a share of 24th and would have finished a distant 13 shots behind the richly talented and implacable South African Retief Goosen. From the time he opened with a 69 on Thursday, there was little doubt the recently crowned US Open champion had another major title within his grasp. He copper-fastened that view with a 66 on Friday, escaped with even par on 72 on Saturday despite having played 'rubbish' before returning to his majestic best yesterday with a closing round of 68.

The rest, literally, were nowhere. Lee Westwood played solidly throughout for eight under along with the fast finishing Australians Richard Green and Peter O'Malley on as low-key a final day as I can recall. There was a decent crowd, the weather was the best of the week, Goosen demonstrated why he is currently rated the best golfer in the world but it didn't seem to matter. Hardly a cheer rent the Kildare air at any stage of a day that simply meandered to a dreary, predictable conclusion.