NICK FALDO, three-times-winner of the title, is set to make a return to the Murphy's Irish Open at Druid's Glen next July. Negotiations with the sponsor are apparently under way already, with a view to securing the services of the US Masters champion.
Indeed Faldo's current Irish interests are two-fold, insofar as he is still keen to secure a 33-year management lease at Ballyliffin GC. The club recently turned down his offer to wipe out their overdraft of £600,000, build a new clubhouse and secure the ongoing development of the facility. The deal is still alive, as far as we're concerned," said Faldo's business manager, John Simpson yesterday. "In fact we're still waiting on an answer from Ballyliffin to our first offer."
They were in London yesterday for the launch of Nick Faldo's Junior Series, a competition for players aged 17 or under, whereby the player hopes to give British and Irish youngsters the sort of start in the game that he wished he had. His own career was launched by watching the telecast of Jack Nicklaus winning the US Masters in 1972.
The series, which Faldo is underwriting to the tune of "£100,000-plus", will culminate in a Grand Final at the Forest of Arden in Warwickshire on August 27th-28th. There, Faldo will not only he present, but will give practice advice and a seminar on what it takes to reach the top. As it happens, the first venue for the series is Royal Co Down on March 27th.
Regarding his European tournament plans for next season, he confirmed that he would be competing in the Loch Lomond World Invitational which has gained the prime slot of July 10th to 12th, the week before the British Open at Royal Troon. From an Irish perspective, however, it also happens to be the week after Druids Glen.
Faldo said: "Loch Lomond is confirmed and negotiations are going on with a few more tournaments. I may play the Irish Open." When pressed on the issue he replied: "Hopefully I will be there."
Having been one of the most loyal supporters of the event since his debut at Portmarnock in 1976 Faldo eventually won the Irish Open at Killarney in 1991.
Meanwhile, he has made no secret of his key target for the year. Alter capturing three US Masters and three British Open titles, he is looking towards the US Open at Congressional in June. "That's the one I am really wanting," he said. "I want to prepare as well as I can and I was beating balls all last week."
Faldo went on: "My fitness regime has gone crazy. I have been brutalised in the gym (he has his own personal trainer in Florida), but I enjoy it. I'm working on strengthening my legs, stomach and back. I've still got goals. That's always been me. I will always give it my absolute best shot. I'd hate to sit back and think that I could have worked harder and could have done better."
He has even turned to an eye specialist for exercises that he hopes will improve his putting. "I've got a busy schedule, hut I will make sure I am at as many of the Faldo Junior Series as possible. I'll certainly be at the whole of the final."
As it happens, it falls in the final week of qualifying for the European Ryder Cup team, but he hopes to have secured his place by then, or have the assurance that skipper, Seve Ballesteros, has him marked down for one of the two wild cards.
Regarding the youngsters, he said: "When I first spoke to a careers officer and said I wanted to be a golfer he just said `No, no, no. Only one in 10,000 make it'. I replied that I was that one. I would like to try to break that down. If a youngster wants to choose a sport I would hope that it's now recognised that it is something you can pursue."
Each regional event will have a maximum of 60 players and the three leading players from a regional Order of Merit will qualify for the Grand Final.
The entry fee for the junior series is £45 and details are available from The Series Director, Faldo Junior Series, Woodcock House, Gibbard Mews, High Street, Wimbledon Village, London SW19 5BY (Tel from January 6th: 0044181 879 1001. Fax: 0044181 8790011).
