One of the most long-lived sponsorships in Irish golf is set to be terminated. Smurfit, who have supported the Irish PGA Championship for the past 14 years, have informed the professional governing body of the sport in this country to "look" for another sponsor

- a move that will bring to an end an association that rejuvenated one of the oldest national championships in the game.

Established in 1907, the Irish PGA grew into the richest domestic championship in Europe under Smurfit's sponsorship. In their near decade-and-a-half as the official title sponsors, the company contributed in excess of € 1.5 million in prize money (plus more in promoting the event) and, in that time, the title was won by the likes of Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley, Philip Walton and Des Smyth. This year's tournament in Adare Manor was successfully defended by McGinley.

One of the perceived problems of the event was the failure to consistently attract Ireland's leading touring professionals. Neither Harrington nor Clarke was available to play in the past two years, for example, and the switching of dates from late-spring to late-autumn failed to have the desired effect of being more attractive to them as players struggled to cope with their globetrotting itineraries.

"We've been sponsors of the Irish PGA for the past 14 years and we have been delighted with the return and the support we have received from both players and the PGA in that time. We wish them well in the future," said a spokesman for the Smurfit group.

The termination of the sponsorship was brought about after a review of sponsorships after Jefferson Smurfit was taken over by Madison Dearborn Partners and once again became a private company.

The decision to discontinue their sponsorship of the Irish PGA Championship does not affect the company's main golf sponsorship, the Smurfit European Open, which is annually held at The K Club in Straffan, Co Kildare. There is a commitment between the sponsors and the European Tour to continue sponsoring that event until at least 2009.

The company first sponsored the European Open in 1995 - when it was won by Bernhard Langer - as part of its successful bid to stage the Ryder Cup, which will be held at The K Club in 2006. Under Smurfit's sponsorship, the European Open has developed into one of the flagship tournaments on the PGA European Tour and this year had a prize fund of over € 3 million. Next year's event will be staged on the new South Course.

As this season's PGA European Tour winds to a close, the penultimate counting event in the Order of Merit takes place this week. However, Darren Clarke's decision not to compete in the Madrid Open means that Ernie Els, without hitting another ball in Europe, has secured the Harry Vardon Trophy. He is the 31st recipient of the award.

Although a member of the tour since 1991, it is the first time that Els - who shares his time between Europe and the US - has topped the money list. The South African won the Heineken Classic and the Johnnie Walker Classic, both in Australia, as well as the Scottish Open and the European Masters to take an unassailable lead over his closest pursuer, Clarke.

"Ernie's a very worthy winner of the Volvo Order of Merit and we congratulate him on his achievement," insisted Ken Schofield, the executive director of the Tour. "He has finished number one mainly on the strength of his victories on our international schedule and these performances re-emphasise Ernie's status as a truly global player."

Clarke, who intends to follow Els in splitting his time between the US Tour and the European Tour next season, claimed: "Ernie deserves it more than I do. He's won more and played better over the season. I've no qualms at all. I've hit the ball well enough to be a lot closer to him than I am, but I couldn't turn that into scores on a consistent basis. It is the same old story. I'm trying to improve as a player and maybe one of these days I will win it."

Clarke was second to Colin Montgomerie in 1998 and to Lee Westwood in 2000, as well as finishing third in 2001.

While Els is destined to top this year's money list, there remains much to play for in this week's Madrid Open where Padraig Harrington - after a two week break - returns to competitive action. He is one of four Irish players in the field, along with Graeme McDowell, Peter Lawrie and Paul McGinley. Clarke is due to return for next week's Volvo Masters.

However, one Irish player who is not playing in Madrid could well be the one most on tenterhooks. Gary Murphy has failed to earn a place in the field in the Madrid Open - the field is limited at this time of the season because of failing light - and is currently placed 57th in the Order of Merit. Only the top-60 after the Madrid Open will win their places in the Volvo Masters. The Kilkenny man is €38,504 clear of 61st placed Peter O'Malley.

Irish positions on Volvo Order of Merit: 2, Darren Clarke €2,159,126; 3, Padraig Harrington €1,417,335; 33, Paul McGinley €609,171; 52, Peter Lawrie €402,866; 57, Gary Murphy €368,306; 91, Graeme McDowell €221,909; 140, Damien McGrane €126,363; 170, Ronan Rafferty €54,911.