Harrington is our best chance of success

EUROPEAN Tour golf of the highest standard has been a constant in Ireland since 1975 when the Irish Open was revived after a 23 year gap.

As inevitably happens, however, the public, and especially those living in and around the greater Dublin area, have become somewhat blasé about such occasions and tend to demand more and more. While the Open at Adare in May proved a great success and attracted 23,000 people on the final day, one wonders how many would have turned up had Pádraig Harrington not been in a winning position.

Those behind the Smurfit European Open have learned from their own event over the years as they worked to make this week’s renewal as attractive as possible. Free entry on day one has already proved a huge hit. But they also needed to put the strongest possible field on the course and by and large they have succeeded in doing so.