EAMONN DARCY will abandon his attempt to become a permanent member of the Irish brigade of broom handle putters when the Turespana Masters begins on the El Saler links at Valencia today.
After months of contemplation, Darcy switched to the long handled club at the Desert Classic in Dubai last month and had immediate success with an opening 68 which required only 28 putts.
But it proved more of a placebo than a panacea and after sliding down to 52nd place at the Emirates Club and missing the cut in the Portuguese Open, the former Ryder Cup golfer has gone back to an orthodox putter which he wields with the unorthodox Bernhard Langer grip.
That is no bad thing on one of Spain's great courses where the 10 under par 62 the German scored in the last round to win the 1984 Spanish Open still stands as the record.
"I have switched back because it is going to take me a whole winter's work to make the switch to the long handled club," explained Darcy yesterday. He spent four hours on the practice green yesterday afternoon working on grooving his stroke for greens which are among the best and quickest on the European circuit.
"Just as important as a solid putting stroke is the ability to drive well here," he added. "It is a real man's course where those who can get it out a long way have an edge."
Darcy's titanium headed Great War Bird driver is the weapon he is banking on in his bid to grab a top prize of over £83,000 from under the nose of Seve Ballesteros and six other members of Europe's victorious Ryder Cup team.
Ballesteros's comeback, after a five month winter break, has not been impressive. He has finished only two of his five events to date, finishing last in Dubai and next to last in the US Masters. He now has an injury to his left wrist caused by a surfeit of swinging a heavily weighted club in his bedroom.
"It looks like I have overdone it," he said. It is not serious, but there is inflammation there and I must be careful. He is planning ice treatment and physiotherapy before his afternoon outing with Sam Torrance and Costantino Rocca.
But at least Ballesteros, who will defend his Spanish Open title in two weeks time, will play. His, Ryder Cup partner and fellow Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal has withdrawn because of further complications with his arthritic right foot. He is now planning to return in Madrid, starting May 9th.
Paul McGinley (ninth) is the leading Irish player in the order of merit going into the 12th tournament of the season, but he could be overtaken by David Feherty (16th) who usually finds, his best form at El Saler. He was, runner up to Frank Nobilo in the Mediterranean Open three years' ago and says "the course is a gem"
McGinley's incentive over the next six weeks is to remain in the top 10 of the money list so that he can claim one of the five special places in the top 20, after the PGA championship, on offer to those not yet qualified for the British Open at Royal Lytham.
His rivals include Scot Raymond Russell, who became the fourth new winner of the season in Cannes last week. At the other, end of the scale is the re-ranking of Tour school graduates like Padraig Harrington, whose first top 10 placing at Royal Mougins has taken him up to seventh position from his original starting mark of 16th.
Harrington learnt yesterday that he has gained a place in next week's Italian Open, so his fate is in his own hands. So far he has been the most promising of the `Irish newcomers, winning over £19,000 in making cheques in all six outings so far.
Ryder Cup man Philip Walton showed signs of more consistency last week and is among the favourites, while Des Smyth, who was third in Madeira, is another back in harness on one of his favourite courses.
Christy O'Connor Jnr, out for a month with tennis elbow, also rejoins the Tour this week along with regulars Ronan Rafferty. John McHenry, Raymond Burns and Francis Howley. Among the invites is Gary Nicklaus third son of the Golden Bear.
