Cannes can't draw the names

HOW can you attempt to follow Augusta's allure? It's a tough act, and the absence of many of the European PGA Tour's big names reflects the task facing the Cannes Open, which takes place at Royal Mougins this week.

Indeed, the tournament (with one of the lowest prize funds on the "circuit) has failed to attract anyone who competed in the Masters, and many other players - including Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Raymond Burns - have decided to wait another week before rejoining the campaign.

Harrington, who competed in 10 straight tournaments up to the Madeira Island Open, which marked the break in the Tour's schedule, has spent, the intervening time on holidays in the United States and won't play again until he defends the Spanish Open title next week. Clarke, Burns and Eamonn Darcy had all originally intended to play in Cannes, but withdrew from the event last week.

So, it is up to a seven strong Irish contingent to attempt to gain a first win of the season when thee Tour recommences. Paul McGinley, refreshed from a full month away from competitive action, Philip Walton, Des Smyth, Ronan Rafferty, David Higgins, John McHenry and Francis Howley comprise the Irish challenge for a title which carries a top prize of £50,000. Remarkably, Rafferty is the only category one player in the field.

Interestingly, one man who has decided to use Cannes as the launchpad for his season is Denmark's Thomas Bjorn, who pipped Harrington for the "rookie of the year" award last season. Bjorn, who is currently third in Europe's Ryder Cup table, has been troubled by a neck injury since withdrawing from the Dubai Desert Classic in February.

Meanwhile, the performances of two Americans at Augusta came as good news for the organisers of the Shell Wonderful World of Golf television series which is planned for Mount Juliet on Sunday, July 13th.

Tom Watson, a great enthusiast of Irish courses, and especially Ballybunion, and Fred Couples are scheduled to meet in a head to a head at the Jack Nicklaus designed course on the Sunday prior to the British Open at Royal Troon. Watson finished fourth behind Tiger Woods in the Masters, while Couples finished in a tie for seventh peace.

Intriguingly, Couples has never competed in a major tournament in Ireland (although he did meet his Ryder Cup conqueror Christy O'Connor Jnr in a match to mark the opening of Harbour Point), while Watson hasn't appeared here since the revival of the Irish Open at Woodbrook in 1975.