Rumford eyes Irish Open tilt

AUSTRALIAN Brett Rumford, the winner when the event was previously staged at Baltray in 2004, and newly crowned Spanish Open champion Thomas Levet, are among the latest entries for the 3 Irish Open starting at the Co Louth links on Thursday week, May 14.

The field is led by Ireland’s Pádraig Harrington, who competes in the Players Championship at Sawgrass this week, and also includes Rory McIlroy, 20 yesterday, and fellow Ulsterman Graeme McDowell, along with other leading members of the European circuit including Miguel-Angel Jimenez, Ross Fisher, Oliver Wilson and Soren Kjeldsen.

The great Spaniard, Jose-Maria Olazabal, who won the title at Portmarnock in 1990, makes a very welcome return to this country having successfully overcome injury and illness to again become a formidable force.