Irish golf fans can look forward to the prospect of again chasing the world's number one golfer, Tiger Woods, around the parkland course at Mount Juliet in Co Kilkenny. Philip Reid reports.
The venue - which so success- fully staged the American Express world golf championship last year - has emerged as the most likely venue to host the event in 2004.
A number of countries in Europe have been seeking to win the rights to stage the tournament - one of four annual World Golf Championship events, considered just one step below that of a major in status - but it has emerged that Ireland has beaten off allcomers in securing the championship.
Mr Peter Adams, the championship director of the World Golf Championships with the PGA European Tour, insisted that the destination of the tournament was "still in the melting pot," but it is my understanding that the Jack Nicklaus-designed course will stage the event a fortnight after next year's Ryder Cup in Detroit.
"There's an enthusiasm to go back to Ireland," Adams said, "but Ireland is one of a number of candidates and discussions are ongoing. Things will probably come to light in a short time."
When Woods won the championship there last year, he was effusive in his praise for the conditioning of Mount Juliet.
"This course is very finely conditioned, as good as you will find any course in America," he said. "The Irish galleries were fantastic. They're knowledgeable, they understand the game. That's the most fun, when you can play in front of fans who appreciate what a good shot really is."
The tournament at Mount Juliet was the most successful such tournament since the WGCs began. Over the four days, 120,174 people converged on the Thomastown venue and, in terms of showcasing Ireland as a golfing destination, the AmEx proved to be a powerful marketing tool.
Last year's tournament was screened live in over 140 countries. Securing the staging rights for the AmEx championship - which features the top 65 players in the world - would strengthen Ireland's reputation as one of the world's top golfing destinations.
The Ryder Cup will be held at the K Club in Straffan, Co Kildare, in 2006, while this year Ireland will play host to two PGA European Tour events - the Smurfit European Open at the K Club and the Nissan Irish Open at Portmarnock.
AmEx would do nicely for Mount Juliet: page 23