Faldo out of Irish Open

Nick Faldo today became the fourth Ryder Cup star to withdraw from the Nissan Irish Open in Co Louth before it even started.

The three-time winner’s season took another turn for the worse when a problem with his left shoulder led to him following Jesper Parnevik, Phillip Price and Thomas Bjorn – last year’s runner-up – out of the €1.8m event.

Faldo, 47 last Sunday, played all 18 holes of the pro-am, but then decided that pain in the joint and down the arm was causing him too much discomfort.

“It’s been a problem for a few weeks now and I need to get it sorted out,” said Faldo, who missed the halfway cut at both the US Open and last week’s Open championship.

“The hard ground is making it too painful. I’ve had everybody working on me, but I’m just so tight – not just in my shoulder, but my hip as well. I’m struggling to make a full turn.

“It was horrible today and I think I’ve got to try something different. Some of the guys are into yoga and saying it’s great, so maybe it’s time to go for that.”

When Faldo finished fourth in the Volvo PGA championship at Wentworth in May he thought there was still a chance he could earn that record 12th Ryder Cup cap he set as his target after deciding not to run for the captaincy.

But with only six qualifying events left he is down in 49th place in the points race, with only the top 10 earning automatic spots.

Parnevik, Bjorn and Price are all fighting a race against time as well to gain their places in Europe’s side.

The Swede’s absence is also down to shoulder trouble. He missed the Scottish Open because of it, failed to qualify for the Open as a result and at the weekend decided to delay his comeback until next week’s Scandinavian Masters.

Bjorn, who lost a play-off to Michael Campbell at Portmarnock a year ago, and Phillip Price cited “sickness” as their reason, Price even making the trip to Ireland before informing the organisers he did not feel well enough to tee off.

Faldo was actually back on the driving range shortly after his withdrawal, but that was to give promising 21-year-old James Heath a coaching lesson prior to his European tour debut.

The Surrey youngster broke the record in the Lytham Trophy, one of Britain’s top amateur events, by 10 shots earlier this season, his 18 under par total even beating by five Tom Lehman’s record Open championship score there by five.

Heath also had a round of 63 in the qualifying stages of the British amateur championship at St Andrews and Faldo said: “I’ve known James since he was about 15 and he’s come on a helluva lot.

“After a few suggestions two years ago I saw him six months later and thought ‘Wow.’ He’s here to get some experience, but Lytham showed he knows how to play links golf, he works the ball well and I’ve given him a few pointers on his game plan.”

At least the championship still boasts its two biggest attractions – Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington – as well as the likes of Luke Donald, Ian Woosnam and Ian Poulter.

Clarke and Harrington do not need any tips about County Louth, even though it is staging the event for the first time.

Both recall it from their amateur days, although amazingly Clarke could not confirm something his caddie JP Fitzgerald said – that he once had a hole-in-one on the 173-yard fifth.

“I don’t remember that and I don’t remember how many I’ve had, probably double figures. But I know I’ve had a few sixes there. It’s a great hole.”

The Ulsterman is back with Fitzgerald for this week only, but whether he returns to Pete Coleman on his next start remains to be seen. Clarke said he was “reviewing the situation” following last week’s 11th place finish in the Troon Open.

Harrington was another to make an early exit from Troon and admits he is struggling with his swing as he also tries to become the first home winner of the title since John O’Leary in 1982.