US Open champions the big attraction at K Club

Michael Campbell and Retief Goosen, the last two US Open champions, will head the field along with Padraig Harrington, winner of his second US Tour title on Sunday, for the Smurfit European Open at the K Club near Dublin tomorrow.

But there is also sure to be a big cheer for Darren Clarke, who returns to action a month after pulling out of the BMW Championship at Wentworth to be with his wife Heather in her battle against cancer.

New Zealander Campbell will be trying to emulate Goosen. The South African’s next appearance after capturing the US Open last year was in this event and he won that as well.

This time Goosen will be attempting to show that his closing 81 at Pinehurst - from three ahead with a round to play – has left no lasting scars.

Campbell, who had to qualify for the US Open, also has one European Open title to his name, having won a dramatic finish against Harrington in 2002.

Paul Lawrie, Tom Lehman, Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam complete the line-up of major champions in the field, but the relevance of Lehman’s presence is that this is the course on which next year’s Ryder Cup will be staged and he and Woosnam are the opposing captains.

The Welshman, who has qualified for the Open at St Andrews in two weeks’ time, unveils at least one of his assistants today and it is expected to be Ireland’s Des Smyth.

It will be Lehman’s third appearance in the tournament, having finished tied for ninth place, seven shots adrift of winner Bernhard Langer, on his debut in 1995, and in a share of 33rd place in 1996.

“Obviously playing the golf course where the Ryder Cup will be staged next year will make this week extra special for me,” said the American, Open champion in 1999, but also remembered for his not-so magnificent part in the controversial ending to the 1999 match in Boston when the home side celebrated prematurely and he ran onto the green before Jose Maria Olazabal had taken his putt to keep the contest alive.

“I have always enjoyed my trips to Europe in the past and to Ireland in particular and I am sure this week will provide me with more memories to treasure.”

The K Club has been a happy hunting ground for Clarke, who established the course record of 60 in 1999, then became the first Irishman to win on home soil since 1982 when he captured the title two years later.

This is the final opportunity for cup hopefuls to play the K Clubs Palmer Course before it stages the match next year.

The Arnold Palmer-designed lay-out was not used last year and it has lengthened slightly to 7,350 yards, with a handful of greens and fairways reshaped.