Top-level talks at Mount Juliet yesterday were aimed at, among other things, launching an inaugural Seniors' Ryder Cup at the Thomastown venue in 2003. They involved European Tour executive director Ken Schofield, his assistant Richard Hills and Mount Juliet's owner, Tim Mahony.

More immediate concerns were a deal with sponsors AIB, Waterford Crystal, Mahony's company Killeen Investments and possibly Aer Lingus, which would secure the Irish Senior Open for the next six years. The plan is to have the event at Mount Juliet and its sister venue, Fota Island, on alternate years.

"We are heartened by Ken's support of and enthusiasm for these plans," said Mahony last night. For his part, Schofield indicated that they were looking at the two venues as "hosts to the Seniors' Tour, regular tour or perhaps even a Seniors' Ryder Cup."

Hills added: "We're very keen to explore the Seniors' Ryder Cup, and 2003 at Mount Juliet is a possibility. With the right agreement in the right quarters, things could move very quickly."

The latter point was aimed at the Americans, who are reluctant to embark on such a venture while the European Seniors are relatively weak compared with Hale Irwin, Gil Morgan et al. In other words, they don't see much chance of a competitive match until players such as Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros, Sandy Lyle, Ian Woosnam and Bernhard Langer join senior ranks over the next eight or nine years.

If the plan succeeds, Ireland would play host to two Ryder Cups - senior and regular - in 2003 and 2005.