THERE'S a lot more at stake for some of Ireland's finest golfers this week than the glittering first prize in the Loch Lomond World Invitational, which begins this morning around the picture postcard shores of the Scottish loch.

Paramount, of course, in the minds of the 150 competitors is the Pounds 133,330 winner's cheque and a coveted, two-year European tour exemption. Aside from the prize money, however, and possible Ryder Cup points, the pot at the end of the Loch Lomond rainbow could include an exemption into next week's 126th British Open championship at Royal Troon.

Already exempt are Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley, while Des Smyth, Eamon Darcy, Philip Walton, David Higgins, Raymond Burns and Ronan Rafferty will be trying to swell the Irish presence at Troon to eight.

Smith has regularly travelled the high and the low roads to a British Open.

"My main goal this week is to secure one of the five qualifying spots available," he said yesterday. "And with so many players already exempt there's every likelihood of finishing in the top 20 and still being able to go through to the Open."

Loch Lomond boasts one of the strongest fields seen in Britain for a PGA European Tour event for some time. Five of the world's top 10 players are competing, including Australia's Greg Norman, dual US Open champion Ernie Els, Irish Open champion Colm Montgomerie and defending British Open champion Tom Lehman.

The field also includes the likes of Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam, Lee Westwood, Bernhard Langer, Jose-Maria Olazabal and defending champion Thomas Bjorn.

Meanwhile, Darren Clarke said he is out to make amends for his lacklustre effort at Druids Glen. Clarke finished a distant 15th.

"I didn't play too well early on last week, but I had a good last round and hopefully I can take that form into this event," said Clarke.

Clarke will play with Harrington and Australia's Robert Allengy for the opening two rounds.

Meanwhile, as golf's popularity continues to grow, so does concern for its future, and even the safety of those who play it. With vast crowds, many of them young and star-struck, expected at next week's Open Championship, Norman, one man many of the teeming throng will want to see, admitted that once or twice "I have feared for my safety".

Norman was not talking death threats, more the fear of being crushed by an autograph-hunting mob who, traditionally, have been able to get closer to their objective than in any other sport.

With the Royal and Ancient allowing those aged 18-and-under in free at Troon (providing they are with a "responsible adult"), there could be all- encompassing hordes massing in those areas where previously players have been free to walk.

It has happened already in America, where Tiger Woods is accompanied by a muscle of minders, up to 20 marshalls designated to ensure a walkway is available for him from locker-room to practice ground to practice green to tee.

Security blankets are being thrown round all the top players, not just to prevent them from death-by-Biro, but to enable them, physically, to get from place to place. It is not uncommon to see platoons of stewards, in V- formation, moving purposefully to the car-park, with a Woods or a Norman strolling along, perfectly protected.

Norman has resolved, though, not to react to crowd provocation. He feels that this is becoming an increasing problem as tournaments attract more and more people, not all of them necessarily versed in golfing etiquette.

Ireland will be hoping to take on board the harsh lessons learned 12 months ago when the European Boys Team Championship begins at Bled, Slovenia, today.

After qualifying in second place for the matchplay stages in Austria last year, Ireland finished a disappointing eighth in the final order of merit.

David Jones, runner-up in the recent Irish Youth championship at Galway, and former champion Lee Dalton, are the only survivors from last year in the current line-up.

England, third in Austria, will start among the favourites and can call upon the outstanding 16-year-old Justin Rose, who has been selected in the Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team.