Murphy cuts to the chase in Majorca

GARY MURPHY will almost certainly save his European Tour card should he make the cut in the Majorcan Open this week — even though he is three places outside the top 115 on the order of merit who retain their playing privileges in 2007.

The good news for the Kilkenny man is that five of those inside the top 115 — Australian Adam Scott, South Africa’s Trevor Immelman, American Kevin Stadler, along with Stephen Ames of Canada and Charlie Wi of China — are not contesting the necessary 11 tournaments this year and so lose their membership of the European Tour.

Nevertheless, Murphy still has work to do and certainly needs to improve on his recent form to survive into the weekend in Majorca.