WHILE the gods played some bizarre tricks on Scotland and, in the process, loosened the host nation's grip on the trophy, Ireland's new generation avoided the pitfalls and vagaries of the medal matchplay format to safely accomplish the first segment of their mission, against Wales, in the Alfred Dunhill Cup at St Andrews yesterday.
The weather conditions were kinder than anyone has a right to expect at the home of golf in October, with no need for the bobble hats which have become a familiar sight at this tournament in recent years. A gentle westerly wind ensured a reasonable test, without causing too much disruption, and the scoring generally reflected the untypically mild weather with no less than 32 players out of 48 managing to better par.
All three Irishmen Paul McGinley, Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke - were among them, ensuring a 2-1 win in the opening match of Group Three's round robin campaign. McGinley's 68 gave him a two shot win over Paul Affleck Harrington's 70 was four strokes better than Philip Price, but Clarke, playing in the top match, succumbed to Mark Mouland by one shot, 71 to 70.
Canada, who fell 2-1 to a South African side inspired by Ernie Els, provide Ireland's opposition today and Ireland experienced enough scarey moments yesterday to fend off any complacency, although the expectation is that tomorrow's match between Ireland and South Africa will decide the group winners.
"We treated Wales with a lot of respect, and that's the only approach you can take in this competition," said Irish captain McGinley. "Anything can happen over 18 holes. We will adopt a similar attitude for the match with Canada. We can't afford any slip up."
McGinley showed his own capacity to weather the storm in his clash with Affleck. The Welshman - all of 80 places behind McGinley in the Order of Merit sank putts of 20 feet and 30 feet respectively to birdie the opening two holes. "He came out hot," admitted McGinley, "and from then on I decided not to play against him, but to play against the course."
The Dubliner birdied three of the next four holes to get level and went a shot ahead when pitching dead at the 12th. Approaching the 16th green still one up, a quick glance at the scoreboard informed McGinley that the tide had started too turn against Clarke in the match ahead. "I knew it was vital for me to win," he recalled. And a solid par par par finish was enough, with Affleck three putting the 16th from the swail at the back and, then, putting his approach to the infamous 17th Road Role up against the stone wall.
Harrington, meanwhile, oozed confidence, just as he has done all season. He assumed the upper hand with a birdie at the fifth and never gave Price a chance to strike back.
For a period, it looked as if Ireland would record a cleansweep. It was not to be. Clarke, who was one shot up on Mouland, three putted the 16th and put his seven iron approach into the bunker guarding the 17th, played out to five feet and saw his putt for par horseshoe out.
"I just felt a little tired, mentally, over the closing stretch and made a couple of silly mistakes," said Clarke. "I am disappointed to lose my match, but it is a team game this week and the important thing is we have beaten Wales and remain on course.
Ireland are being touted as prospective winners, their odds tumbling from 14 to 1 down to 13 to 2 inside the past week. "The odds are not justified," said Harrington. "There is only foolish money going on now." Still, Ireland were one of just five countries yesterday who had all three players under par.
South Africa remain strong rivals, however, in the group. Retief Goosen struggled yesterday, but Els (who shot a 65) and Westner (68) provided more than adequate cover.
Scotland, the holders, also hit form and were a collective 11 under par, but still lost. In the most remarkable encounter of day one, the Group Two tussle between the Scots and Sweden came down to the final match between Colin Montgomerie and Jarmo Sandelin. Events at the 16th, a comparatively innocent hole, proved crucial.
Sandelin holed a monster putt of 110 feet there for birdie on his way to a one hole win in the decisive match. Bizarrely, the Swede and, indeed, Montgomerie - thought his approach was destined to finish out of bounds and roared "fore" to the spectators at greenside. "I tried to hit a fade but, as soon as I struck it, I thought `oh no, not now' and was sure it was going out," he recalled. But it stayed in bounds and, amazingly, he sank the putt.
"The whole tie was clinched on the 16th," admitted Montgomerie. "From a position where I felt I would go two shots ahead, I was one down. I don't think there is any point in being despondent. We have to look forward to the next two days and, hopefully, the weather will change.
There were other dramatics elsewhere. In Group Four, New Zealand were taken to the wire by Germany and required a win by Grant Waite over Heinze Peter Thul - at the fourth tie hole - to claim a 2-1 win, while unseeded England upset Spain in Group One. However, the top two seeds USA and Australia made no mistakes with 2-1 wins over Italy and Japan respectively.
Ominously, the weather forecast for the weekend is for gales, which will transform the course. The Scots, certainly, are praying that the winds arrive in an effort to resurrect their hopes of keeping their hands on the trophy. But the Irish, too, are praying for wind. And its imminent arrival is, perhaps, the only certainty for the next few days.
