GOLF EUROPEAN TOUR: THE IRISH OPEN'S return to Baltray on May 14th-17th next after a five-year break, confirmed yesterday by the PGA European Tour, has created a major headache for the Irish Ladies Golf Union who were scheduled to play their national championship over the Co Louth links that same week.
Now, the ILGU - whose Lancome Women's Irish Close was originally pencilled in for May 16th-20th - must secure a new venue at very short notice. However, taking the bigger picture viewpoint, ILGU official Denise McCarthy admitted the union was in the process of looking for another course "preferably staying on the east coast" but recognised the decision to hold the Irish Open on the links was "for the betterment of golf."
The ILGU has taken the hit on the chin, and the return to Baltray will be welcomed by tour players - "I'm absolutely delighted it is going there," remarked Paul McGinley, who was a junior member at Co Louth - and also avoids embarrassment for both the European Tour and the Government as the club has come in as host venue after Mount Juliet, the preferred choice to host the tournament, declined.
This year's Irish Open will have a new title sponsor - the international mobile network 3, although an official announcement to that end won't be made for another two weeks. A purse of €3 million is expected, placing the tournament at the top-end on the European Tour in terms of prize money.
It will be held the week after the Players in Sawgrass and the week ahead of the tour's flagship event, the BMW PGA at Wentworth.
"On a personal level, I'm delighted that the Irish Open is going back to Baltray," said Pádraig Harrington, who was runner-up to Brett Rumford over the links in 2004.
"It's a fantastic course and one I've always enjoyed playing. It was a great venue the last time and people along the east coast certainly know their golf."
The triple-major winner is also of the belief that it was important to sort out a venue earlier rather than later so that players could commit to a schedule. However, the fact the tournament comes immediately after the Players Championship could mean some European players may need extra persuasion.
"It could be a hard sell," admitted Harrington, who offered the opinion that laying on a flight could be an option considered for players wavering on moving on from Sawgrass.
"It could be an attractive way for a number of Europeans to get home," he added. "But this is a good venue and good place (for players to get to)."
Will the lack of growth affect the challenge?
"I don't think it is a big deal, to be honest," observed Harrington. "The most difficulty at Baltray tends to be in missing greens . . . as long as there is some wispy rough, that will be fine."
With 3 coming on board, the prize fund is set to increase. "It's getting up there, it distinguishes itself away from other (regular) tournaments," said Harrington.
For the past two years, the Irish Open - without a title sponsor - was held at Adare Manor, with Harrington triumphing in 2007 before going on to claim his first major at the British Open in Carnoustie. Harrington's win ended a 25-year drought since the pervious Irish winner, John O'Leary in 1982. Last year, England's Richard Finch triumphed.
The return to a links course, very important in terms of marketing Ireland as a golfing destination, was welcomed by the Minister for Sport, Martin Cullen.
"In my contacts with golfers of the European Tour, I have been very conscious of their desire to play on Ireland's world renowned links courses. While they have greatly enjoyed playing on the excellent parkland courses on which the Irish Open was staged in recent years, they relish the challenges posed by a links golf course," said Cullen.
Co Louth Golf Club was approached to play host to the tournament after initial approaches to Mount Juliet were declined, the Kilkenny facility - which has previously hosted the Irish Open on three occasions along with two world golf championships - believing the event came too early in the year for its course to be as pristine as it would like.
Where is Baltray? Situated on the mouth of the river Boyne, just four miles from Drogheda, the course was designed in 1938 by Tom Simpson and modernised by Donald Steel in 2003. The course - officially known as Co Louth Golf Club - is laid out in two loops of nine, covering 190 acres. It is the home of the East of Ireland amateur championship, which is traditionally played over the June bank holiday weekend.
What happened the last time the Irish Open was played there? Australian Brett Rumford shot a 72-holes total of 14-under-par 274 to finish four shots clear of joint runners-up Pádraig Harrington and Raphael Jacquelin in the 2004 Irish Open. "Your stomach just churns the whole way round," remarked Rumford of the pressure he felt in the last round. It was Rumford's second tour win. He didn't win again on tour until last year's European Masters.
Who is likely to play? Unfortunately, the tournament is the week immediately after the Players championship at Sawgrass on the US Tour . . . but expect triple-major winner Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy (who will all be playing in Sawgrass) to return home for the tournament which will carry a prize fund of €3 million. Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley, Damien McGrane and the rest of the Irish contingent on tour will also be there - and expect them to put some pressure on their European tour colleagues to include the event on their schedule. Don't expect any top Americans, though.
How much does it cost for a round of golf? The green fee stands at €125 midweek/€150 weekends. At the moment, there is a reduced winter green fee of €90 (due to the fact that players must move the ball to the side of the fairway and use mats).
