A CANOPY of oak, pine and poplar offered blessed relief from a burning sun as I went in quest of the Irish. And they were approaching the turn when I came upon them, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley in the front group and Padraig Harrington a few groups behind - with Tiger Woods in between.

They are making a small, but significant piece of history this week as the first Irish trio to compete in the same US Open. And should they feel the need of a worthwhile target at which to aim, they could do worse than emulate the achievement of a certain Peter O'Hara, back in 1924.

That's what the Americans called him when he finished in a share of seventh place behind the English-born Cyril Walker at Oakland Hills. But he was in fact Peter O'Hare, one of three famous golfing brothers from Greenore. Indeed, Pat O'Hare was tied 35th in the US Open of 1921.

Clarke, meanwhile, is something of an old hand at this business, having played twice before. On both occasions, however, he failed to make the cut, at Oakmont (77, 75) in 1994 and at Oakland Hills (77, 73) last year. But for McGinley and Harrington, it is a new experience, which they earned by finishing in the top-15 of the European Order of Merit last year.

Their presence brings the European representation to 15, allowing for the withdrawal yesterday of Costantino Rocca because of muscle damage. The line-up is: Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, Ian Woosnam, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley, Padraig Harrington, Thomas Bjorn, Bernhard Langer, Peter Mitchell, Jose-Maria Olazabal, Paul Broadhurst, Andrew Coltart, Raymond Russell, Jesper Parnevik and Lee Westwood.

In terms of learning the ropes, Harrington had the foresight to join Bernhard Langer and Jose-Maria Olazabal for practice yesterday. Just watching the German can be an education in itself and from my observations over the last 18 months, Harrington is an admirably keen student.

"Are you getting any balls to spin out of that?" he asked Langer, who was playing recovery shots from a greenside trap at the 10th. The German nodded in the negative. "I thought it was me, said the Dubliner, to no one in particular.

Turning towards me he said: "This is everything I expected a US Open course to be. Particularly the rough which is genuine rough - short-iron stuff. Obviously there are a lot of very tight holes out here but, for instance, I wouldn't be disappointed to be in rough off the sixth tee."

This was a reference to the problems posed by water to the front and right of the green at a hole measuring 475 yards and normally a par-five for the members. "You might have a better chance of making par there with a sandwedge third shot than by going for the green with a four iron," he said.

Harrington plays with American journeymen Duffy Waldorf and Fred Funk in the opening two rounds. I suggested he would probably be pleased with a score of 142 - two over par - on Friday night, with a view to realising his primary target of making the halfway cut.

He thought for a moment before replying: "If you offered me 146, I'd grab it. This is the toughest course I've ever played. Tougher even than Royal Co Down in a wind."

Clarke and McGinley were further along the course playing in a group with Montgomerie and Mitchell. And expert help was on hand in the event of any swing problems. Pete Cowen, who coaches both of the Irish players was there, as was Gordon Severson, McGinley's coach from his college days in San Diego.

"The fascinating thing about Congressional is the demands it places on course management," said McGinley. "It's not like Lytham (venue for last year's British Open) where, simply by feel, you sense how to avoid the bunkers. Here, you would need a computer to figure out all the factors that have to be considered on every hole. It's fascinating."

He stood over a six-iron shot to the 11th green, 172 yards away. Cowen was positioned directly behind him, casting a critical eye. The ball soared towards the target, coming to rest about eight feet away. "Pleased?" I asked the guru. "Let's put it this way: it's a big improvement on how things where when Paul came to me three weeks ago," replied Cowen.

Then, almost dismissive of his craft, the coach added: "At the end of the day, it depends on how much a player has in there (pointing to his heart) and what's in there (pointing to his head)."

Meanwhile, if some freak development caused Clarke to go in search of a job, he should avoid the PR department of a certain leading airline. Somehow, he would lack the necessary conviction for the role, given that last weekend, they lost his clubs for a sixth time in seven trips. And that's travelling first class.

It meant buying a putter and wedge in the professional's shop here on Sunday to get in some sort of practice while waiting for his clubs to arrive the following day. On yesterday's evidence, however, he survived the ordeal rather well.

A gloriously-struck five-iron of 187 yards never left the flag, coming to rest 10 feet behind the target. "The course suits me - I like it," he said with a grin. "It's much fairer than Oakmont where you got a lot of freak bounces."

Since 1990 at Medinah, where Ronan Rafferty spearheaded a comeback by Irish competitors to this championship, only two have made the cut. Rafferty was 63rd that year and Philip Walton finished in a share of 97th place 12 months ago.

But a forgotten Irish hero, Peter O'Hare, showed all of them the way, 73 years ago.