Boost for Monty with European strength

COREY Pavin, the US Ryder Cup team captain, must be wondering what’s going on these days.

Week in, week out, members of the opposing European side are contesting the closing stages of many of the biggest tournaments on the US PGA Tour and frequently winning them or even fighting it out among themselves for the top honour. There was a classic example of this in February when Ian Poulter defeated Paul Casey in the final of the WGC-Accenture World Match Play Championship in Arizona.

Over the last weekend, the St Jude Classic in Memphis, Tennessee, boiled down to another head-to-head between Lee Westwood and Robert Karlsson. Westwood, the game’s third ranked player, got home at the fourth extra hole. It could, of course, be fairly argued that it should never have reached this stage given that the unheralded Robert Garrigus had the tournament in the bag until taking a triple bogey seven at the 18th, the fact remains that not a single potential member of the American team was in any way involved in the closing stages.

Just as pertinently, Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy swept to hugely impressive victories in prestigious US tournaments, the Memorial in Jack Nicklaus’s Memorial tournament at Muirfield Village and the Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina. In fairness, the first major of the season so far, the Masters, was won comfortably enough by Phil Mickelson with only Westwood of the European contingent figuring any way prominently going down the stretch. But “Lefty” was always going to be a key member of the American side and one player – or even five or six if you also factor in the likes of Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk, Anthony Kim, Steve Stricker and Hunter Mahan – was ever enough for Ryder Cup success.

Quite clearly, Corey Pavin is struggling for depth whereas Colin Montgomerie could hardly be better off in this key area. Indeed, the way things are panning out, players of the calibre of Pádraig Harrington, Paul Casey, Martin Kaymer and Henrik Stenson, to name but four, have some work to do to get among the captain’s automatic top nine.

All of which, of course, doesn’t mean that the Ryder Cup is a foregone conclusion and a lot more could be revealed this coming week with the eagerly awaited US Open Championship at the magnificent Pebble Beach on the Monterey Peninsula. Tiger Woods will be the centre of all attention for many reasons, not least to see if he is capable of repeating his sensational performance over this course in 2000 when he shot a 16 under par total of 272 to win by a record margin of 15 shots from Miguel-Angel Jimenez and Ernie Els.

Pádraig Harrington finished a creditable fifth at a time when he was still some way off becoming a world figure in the game. Now, though, he is a three-time major champion and struggling badly for positives going into his 13th US Open. Rounds of 65, 74, 71 and 73 for a three over par total of 283 saw him tie for 56th in the St Jude Classic at the week-end. A cheque for $12,656 will do little to cheer him while the recent surgery on his right knee clearly had a debilitating effect on him in Memphis where he began promisingly with a 65 before fading away over the next three days.

Rory McIlroy was a little more consistent, shooting 69, 66, 72 and 71 for two under and a share of 29th worth $34,009. McIlroy looks a better proposition than Harrington at Pebble while a great deal is also expected of Graeme McDowell after his outstanding victory last week in the Wales Open. The other Irish in the field are Gareth Maybin, who did so well to come through the recent pre-qualifier at Sunningdale, and the 19-year-old Irish-American Kevin Phelan, who eagled the last in his qualifier at Hobe Sound, Florida, to emerge as co-medallist.

While all eyes will be focused on Pebble Beach next weekend, there will also be a considerable degree of interest in the Irish Amateur Close Championship taking place for the twelfth time over the Royal Dublin links at Dollymount on the Bull Island. It’s a venue that has produced several famous winners since first hosting the country’s oldest event back in 1895 and looks set to host another outstanding championship.

It was last played there in 1986 when John McHenry of Douglas defeated Meath garda Paul Rayfus in the final by 4 and 3. McHenry went on to earn his Walker Cup spurs a year later and interestingly, his predecessors as Close champions at Royal Dublin also earned that signal honour. Dr David Sheehan (who also won the Jeyes professional tournament over the course) beat Ulsterman Johnny Faith by 3 and 2 in the 1966 decider.

The Lahinch legend John Burke captured two of his eight Close titles at Royal Dublin, in the process getting the better of two other greats of the Irish game in the finals, Cecil Ewing of Co Sligo by 2 and 1 in 1946 and Dr Billy O’Sullivan of Killarney by 4 and 3 in1940, both matches contested over 36 holes.

Limerick Golf Club Secretary/Manager Pat Murray defends the title he won in impressive fashion at Enniscrone 12 months ago but most of the wise money will be invested on the talented horde of golfers descending on Royal Dublin from the northern end of the island. Lytham Trophy winner Paul Cutler and Irish Amateur Open and West of Ireland champions Alan Dunbar and Rory Leonard are just three who look capable of bringing the title back across the border.

The qualifying rounds take place on Saturday and Sunday next when it will be fascinating to see how many can actually perform to their exalted sounding handicaps. For instance, Cutler is the lowest of the 150-strong field at plus 4 but the cut came at 0.9 with this year’s mark half a shot lower than 2009. While conditions have a major role to play in these matters, especially where links golf is concerned, this essentially means that anyone shooting higher than 74 or 75 is not playing to his handicap. And right now it can be guaranteed that there will be many scores in the 80s and maybe even one or two in the 90s. Which leaves one to wonder where so many of these guys actually get their handicaps!