Slim pickings, but a real test
The winner of the country’s oldest professional event will receive €4,000 with the remainder of the money distributed as evenly as possible between those who make the 36 hole cut tomorrow evening.
IPGA secretary Michael McCumiskey explained that they had been unable to sell any teams for yesterday’s pro-am and that this year no subvention was forthcoming from the parent body at PGA headquarter at The Belfry. The prize fund in 2008 amounted to €70,000. Sponsors Ladbrokes.com are contributing €40,000, with €14,000 of that amount being used to defray the costs of running the event.
Nevertheless, Pádraig Harrington insists that playing four competitive rounds over a great links course in the week immediately before the Open Championship pushes monetary concerns far into the background and that he is not in any way casting an envious glance at the hugely contrasting sums of money available in Scotland.
Harrington has won the Irish title over Pat Ruddy’s outstanding creation for the past two years and on five occasions in all. And in spite of his bitterly disappointing campaign to date, it would be a shock of massive proportions if he failed to further improve on that record over the next four days.
Harrington is the only one of Ireland’s 12 European Tour players in the field. All the others are chasing the big money on offer in Scotland. But Padraig believes the European Club is the ideal place for him to prepare for next week as he pursues a course of action that he feels played a major part in his memorable victories at Carnoustie in 2007 and Royal Birkdale last year.
“I believe the fantastic challenge presented by the European Club is the idea links golf preparation for the Open just as it was over the past couple of years,” he declared. “It’s been an excellent exercise and I couldn’t have asked for a better week in preparation. I don’t think it puts me a shot ahead of anybody else but it will certainly save me shots.”
Harrington captured the first of his five Irish titles at Powerscourt in 1998 when he defeated Francis Howley, Des Smyth and Michael Bannon (Rory McIlroy’s coach) in a play-off. He was again successful in 2004 and ‘05 at St Margarets and PGA National, but by that stage the future of the country’s oldest professional tournament was in serious trouble.
However, Harrington saved the day when agreeing to enter for the past two years provided it was played over a links on the week preceding the Open. Ladbrokes.com came in with sponsorship and Padraig duly kept his word.
Given the absence of all the other Irish touring pros, it looks as if Harrington has a sixth title all to himself this week. But far more important than such a statistic is that he should successfully reacquaint himself with links golf, something he failed to do in the 3 Irish Open at Baltray when he missed the cut. He goes off the first tee today at 1.40pm along with Robert Giles of Greenore and Francis Howley (Carton House).
David Higgins currently leads the Irish Region order of merit ahead of Damian Mooney, Michael Collins, Michael McGeady and Simon Thornton and it is hoped at least two or three from this group will offer a worthwhile challenge to the runaway favourite.
A major piece of Irish golfing history is also being made this week, as 28 year-old Marian Riordan from Tipperary becomes the first lady to compete in the championship having qualified with a highly creditable 77 in extremely difficult conditions at the European Club in May.
A former Munster interpro and Irish international, Marian turned professional in 2007. The only concession she receives is an allowance of up to 10% on the yardage of a hole. She points out: “That’s the maximum, on average I suppose I have a 20 to 25-yard advantage on the guys and about 10 yards at the par threes.”
Robert Giles took top spot at the curtain-raising pro-am on the tough Brittas Bay track yesterday as he carded a two-over-par 73, one shot ahead of John Kelly and Harrington.
