Back to earth on the European Tour

IN light of the Shark's chastening experience, nobody is safe from the golfing gods, and Raymond Burns - part of a 10-strong Irish invasion force for the Cannes Open at, Royal Mougins, starting on Thursday - won't be at all surprised if events across the Atlantic will be very much on players' minds when the European Tour resumes after a two-week siesta.

Burns was an avid television viewer of the Masters, using it as a continuing part of his education. "As a young fella, I can learn from watching these guys, especially Nick Faldo," he explained. "Nick is just unbelievable on a course; he just grinds away. He doesn't seem to be affected by anything."

So, the 22-year-old Banbridge man has taken on board the contrasting fortunes of two of the game's most illustrious competitors. "I don't think Greg Norman will ever win the Masters now, he wants it too badly" suggested Burns.

Away from such frightening pressure, Burns hopes to continue on his own upwardly mobile graph in the south of France this week.

Burns has used the fortnight's break constructively, going back to his mentor Don Patterson in Warrenpoint for a refresher course: "Don's been coaching me since I was 1O and knows my swing inside out, so it was great to spend so much time with him.

"Things are good. I'm going to France with plenty of confidence; the switch to the broomhandle putter has been a great move and, if I can make a few putts drop, then anything can happen," he said.

Paul McGinley, Darren Clarke (just back from his honeymoon on a get-away- from-it-all island in the Indian Ocean), David Feherty, Ronan Rafferty, Philip Walton, Francis Howley, Padraig Harrington, John McHenry and David Higgins complete the Irish contingent.

But the men at the top of the European Order of Merit - Ian Woosnam and Colin Montgomerie - have opted not to compete at Royal Mougins and, indeed, the switch from its traditional home in Cannes Mougins is one of the reasons why Des Smyth has decided to take an extra week's leave from competition: "I just don't like this particular course," he admitted, candidly.

Like virtually every golfer, from the touring professional to the society player, Smyth kept a close eye on events over at Augusta National and, in particular, Norman's stunning collapse.

"I really felt sorry for Greg. Being a professional, I know how it can slip away on you, said Smyth. "I knew Nick would play well, but I still expected Greg to win going into the last round with such a lead.

"It's particularly sad because Greg deserves to have won a Masters, maybe as many as three. He is still the world number one in the rankings, because of the way he plays day in, day out - and yet something like this can still happen to him.

Smyth, though, is a huge admirer of Faldo. "He is just such a tough guy on the course. When you think what he did at the Ryder Cup last year up the finishing stretch, that was awesome. And then he does this, managing to keep his emotions so much in check. It is just so impressive.

Smyth will return to the circuit for next week's Turespana Masters in Valencia, before leading the tour players home for the Smurfit Irish PGA Championship at the Slieve Russell on May 2nd-5th.

There will be a record 129 competitors in the qualifying tournament for this year's Irish PGA. Approximately 45 places will be available in the qualifying round, which takes place at Seapoint Golf Club, Termonfeckin next Tuesday.

The championship proper has a prize, fund of over £100,000, making it the richest, closed national PGA championship in Europe.