It's hard to avoid a strong Tiger (right) flavour to this week's offering. Anyway, during the J P McManus Pro-Am at Limerick GC last July, Cian McNamara was caddying in the Tiger Woods group. And he talked with his idol about going to Torrey Pines for the World Junior Championship of which Woods, as a six-time winner, would be something of an expert.

Both players have done rather well since that meeting. Indeed, Master McNamara has gained the distinction of becoming only the second player to represent Ireland at Boys' International level, as a 14-year-old. Diligent scrutiny of GUI records by Niall Corcoran, the junior officer at Limerick GC, confirmed that Ronan Rafferty set the standard in 1978.

The Limerick player, who will be 15 in June, was in this week's team against Wales in the annual Cardigan Cup at Rosslare GC. In only a few years, his handicap has come down from 28 to three. And he has won 16 out of 17 matches for his club in the Fred Daly Trophy, Irish Junior Foursomes, Irish Club Youths' and Irish Junior Cup. Tiger would be proud of him.