The Smurfit Course at the K Club, ably supported by lieutenants Wind and Rain, cut a swathe through the elite on the European Tour. A debutant in terms of tournament golf, this novice punched well above its weight, allowing just 23 competitors from the 156 who teed it up on Thursday to finish under par.
The elements were undoubtedly a central factor, a fact best illustrated on the final day when conditions had eased to an occasional drizzle and light breeze: scoring improved dramatically.
The first hole proved the most difficult over the four days, but the 18th provided the best theatre. It should carry a Government health warning.
Going under the warm, fuzzy title of Swan Island, the 578-yard par five is a classic example of the risk/reward conundrum. For those who stationed themselves in its environs, there was no shortage of drama.
Ironically, though, at the business end of the tournament it failed to tantalise those with most to lose.
Retief Goosen's command of the tournament meant that those chasing him were more concerned with the battle for second, so the potential card-wrecker for those who go for the green in two became benign as a three-shot hole.
It is the second-shortest of the four par fives, and was ranked sixth most difficult over the four rounds, but water enters the equation initially from the tee shot, and then, for the brave or the foolhardy, there is the opportunity to try to hit an island green in two.
This week fortune favoured the cautious, and the hole yielded just two eagles. Take a bow, Robert Rock and Christopher Hanell.
For the majority who played Russian roulette with Lady Luck and spun the barrel, they found the chambered bullet.
Sweden's Peter Hedblom enjoyed the dubious distinction of running up the highest score, an 11, but there were 20 colleagues who recorded more than a double bogey - there were 69 bogeys and 29 double bogeys - over the four rounds. Yesterday Martin Erlandsson and Rolf Muntz took 10 shots on the hole before they escaped to the sanctuary of the recorder's hut.
Others suffered a similar tale of woe, notably Scotland's Alastair Forsyth (9) and Ireland's Padraig Harrington (8).
Graeme McDowell (10) and Justin Rose (8) were among others who consigned a sleeve or two to a watery grave earlier in the week.
The good news for those who'll play the European Open next season is that it will return to the Palmer (North) Course.
Only once more will it return to this week's location in the foreseeable future. Because the Palmer Course will stage the 2006 Ryder Cup, the European Open will switch to its sister course that year.
A common reaction among the professionals who voiced an opinion was lavish praise for the greens, and in general terms the course was well received, but without the superlatives that have been thrust on the Palmer Course.
