Tour ponder opening up new route to Irish Open

The European Tour is toying with the idea of staging a special qualifier for this year’s Irish Open at Carton House.

There has been no Monday qualifying on the European Tour since it became an ‘all exempt Tour’ in 1984. But given the huge interest in playing in the event since last year’s sell-out success at Royal Portrush, there could be a huge Irish presence at the Montgomerie Course from June 27-30.

According to a European Tour spokesman: “The concept of a qualifier has been mooted, but nothing has been finalised. It is just an idea, which would need further ratification from Tour Executive and perhaps the Tournament Committee.”

Whether the qualifier would be open to all comers or limited to Irish players only remains to be seen, though PGA Irish Region secretary Michael McCumiskey said this week that he had heard nothing from the PGA or Wentworth on the proposal.

“We had 20 spots in the Irish Open 20 years ago,” McCumiskey said. “Then it was reduced to 10 and for the last five or six years we have had eight places, determined by the previous year’s Order of Merit. I’ve heard nothing about it and it would surprise me given the changes the European Tour is making with its exemption categories.”

It is believed the qualifier could provide another three or four places in the event which will already feature at least 27 Irishmen with the eight players already exempt through the 2012 PGA Irish Region Order of Merit, headed by David Higgins. They would be joined by European Tour card holders Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, Pádraig Harrington, Shane Lowry, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley, Michael Hoey, Gareth Maybin, Damien McGrane, Peter Lawrie and up to eight sponsor’s invitations, including four amateurs.

No venue has yet been discussed, though the O’Meara Course at Carton House, which now features new first and 18th holes, will almost certainly be considered if the idea gets off the ground.

Meanwhile, Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley has revealed he has arranged a meeting with his American counterpart Tom Watson later this year.

“We’ve had a few mails, with Tom and I exchanging phone numbers and so on, and at this point in time there is no point in us having to communicate largely, ” said McGinley.

“But now after all the excitement of the last two weeks, I am also very measured and a bit more clinical with what I want to do and now start to flower those ideas I have and put them into reality.”

McGinley said also his wife, Alison, has already begun considering clothing designs for the European Team.

“So there are a number of things already going on since my appointment but I just continue to be overwhelmed by the support I’ve been shown,” he said.

“Then I know things will become difficult and there will be question marks over some of my decisions but I have a very clear picture of where I have to go and what role I have to play.

“I am also very determined over the next six months or so of not over-captaining or over-communicating or over-doing it.

“That’s what I said to Lee [Westwood] when we spoke that ‘you won’t be hearing from me for six months and that you’ll be over in America, so don’t worry if you don’t hear from me’.”