Given the events of recent years, being Swedish seemed almost enough to guarantee them success on Irish soil. Either way, Sophie Gustafson and Carin Koch duly earned u £50,000 each when capturing the inaugural Bord Failte/TSN sponsored Women's World Cup by a five-stroke margin over England at Adare Manor Resort yesterday.
As it happened, the top two countries were represented by members of the European team for the forthcoming Solheim Cup matches against the Americans at Loch Lomond next month. So, the partnerships should be of particular interest to European skipper, Dale Reid, in her foursomes and fourball plans.
Sweden's victory came only three months after Gustafson had regained the Women's Irish Open title at Faithlegg and of course a few weeks later, compatriot Patrik Sjoland became the Millennium winner of the Murphy's Irish Open at Ballybunion. But almost inevitably, Laura Davies imposed her stature on the event,
by capturing the individual prize of u £25,000 with a 54-hole aggregate of 209 - seven-under par.
"It's really nice to have won the first World Cup and I hope it will have an impact back home," said the American-based Koch afterwards. "But they've been really spoiled in Sweden with all the people who have been winning."
The impact of Gustafson, who birdied the par-five 18th from 20 feet in a closing round of 71, would have struck a special chord with observers at Ballyliffin two years ago. For it was there she gained her breakthrough victory before becoming one of Europe's leading players.
The Swedes were never really pressurised throughout the day and the decisive hole proved to be the 482-yard 12th which they both birdied. The bigger hitting Gustafson reduced it to a drive, three wood and two putts while her partner hit a sand wedge third shot to six feet.
"It is a really great course and the 15th (370-yard par four) is one of the best holes I've ever played," said Davies. "A real bonus was that they were spot-on in how they set it up. I will definitely come back if they decide to keep the tournament here."
It might have been an admirable notion to offer free admission, if only to provide a desirable backdrop for television pictures beamed around the world.
The quality field treated the course with the utmost respect, especially the long 18th, where the green is fronted by the River Maigue, which dominates the back nine. Originally set at 501 yards, it was later shortened by 40 yards in the hope of players attempting to reach it in two, but not even the big-hitting Davies was tempted.
Still, she carded a course record 67 in the second round on Saturday, only to have it broken yesterday by Marine Monnet of France who had halves of 33 in a bogey-free 66.
Meanwhile, it was a particularly grim exercise for Ireland who were joint last with Switzerland of the 26 competing countries, on 51 over par. Aideen Rogers played well, with rounds of 73, 73 and 76, but her partner, Lynn McCool, was totally out of her depth. The Strabane player, whose activities are limited to a club job in Northern Ireland, had a disastrous 96 on Saturday. She finished yesterday with a dismal 86.
Sweden, who led all the way, had opened up a four-stroke advantage over Australia by Saturday evening. England's victory hopes effectively evaporated at the long seventh where Davies hit a three-iron second shot into water to run up a bogey six. So the challenge was left to the Australians who closed the gap to two strokes midway through yesterday's round, with an outward journey of 33 from Crafter. But the same player knocked them back out of the hunt with a bogey on the 10th while England moved into contention with birdies from Trish Johnson and Davies at the short 11th.
Later, Johnson struck what proved to be a decisive blow by sinking a 10-foot birdie putt on the 17th to edge the English duo into second place on their own.
