TUMBLING WATER beside the 18th green at Druids Glen captures the essence of the Pounds 750,000 Murphy's Irish Open, from contrasting perspectives. To the spectator, it reflects the beauty of a delightful venue, but to the tournament professional it exemplifies the menace of a potentially punishing layout.
The extent to which competitors arc prepared to accept the nature of that challenge, will dictate their fortunes when Ireland's Jimmy Heggarty hits the first tee-shot at 7.30 this morning. And it will be no great comfort to aspiring champions that the holder, Colin Montgomerie, likes everything he sees.
Meanwhile, there was admirably straight-talking yesterday from Paul McGinley regarding the absence of a home winner since John O'Leary triumphed at Portmarnock in 1982. Was the level of expectation too great? "Certainly not," replied McGinley. "That's an excuse, not a problem."
By way of emphasising the point, he added: "Home advantage should be worth a shot or two. We have no problem regarding requests for tickets - the sponsors make sure we have enough for our families. As for autograph hunters: we don't sign nearly as many as the top players like Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie."
Given that the car happens to be second-hand, the top prize of Pounds 125,000 would probably be enough to buy Darren Clarke's Ferrari Testarossa - registration 60 DC to mark a low 60 he shot at Monte Carlo in 1992. Designed for pace rather than space, its limitations were exposed on Tuesday when Clarke (16st 7lbs) and his manager, Andrew "Chubby" Chandler, travelled in it from CityWest to Druids Glen. And were obliged to hire a taxi for their luggage!
As the leading Irish challenger, will he win? "I usually seem to scrape through the cut in the Irish Open, but if I play the way I've been doing, I would certainly give myself a chance," he replied. The quality of his recent form can be gauged from finishes of third, seventh, 12th, second, fourth and third in his last six European events, with a 43rd in the US Open last month.
But he had an unhappy dress-rehearsal in yesterday's pro-am in which he reckoned he was five or six over par. "Most of those shots were on the greens, which I didn't seem to handle very well," he said. "But I'm satisfied the stroke is good enough to bring results."
The creeping bent greens are also causing some concern to tournament director, Andy McFee, because of "spiking". "Heavy rain last week did the damage," he said. "So, we've had to give them plenty of treatment with the groomer." This attachment to the mower creates the effect of a twin-blade razor, eliminating nap, or grain as much as possible.
At the moment, the pace is a little over nine on the Stimpmeter, but McFee is hoping that some dry weather and a fresh breeze will speed them up appreciably over the weekend. In the meantime, competitors will have to contend with the problem of spiking, which can present a significant, psychological challenge.
Interestingly, there wasn't a mention of them from Montgomerie who was positively oozing with bonhomie during and after the pro-am. One British photographer, Andy Reddington of Allsport, was so encouraged by the Scot's demeanour that he decided to request the unthinkable.
Would Monty mind if he snapped him at the top of his backswing, while hitting an eight-iron to the short 12th? No problem, came the reply. Mind you, while the photograph was first-class, the shot went dangerously close to the water.
Nick Faldo, who made his debut in this championship at Portmarnock in 1976, was not so fortunate. His eight-iron at the 12th ran down the slope into the water. But he responded with a very rare birdie at the treacherous, 474-yard 13th, reducing it to a drive, four iron and 15-foot putt.
Faldo may not be as long as some of his leading contemporaries but the dog-leg 13th emphasises the value of hitting the ball in the right place, rather than prodigious distances. Still, his play of these two holes reflected a current problem with his game.
"It's still a bit inconsistent," he admitted. "I hit really good shots and then hit some bad ones - with the same good swing thoughts. It makes you wonder why." Indeed. Why is part of the game's marvellous fascination.
According to the Englishman, Druids Glen is a physical course, involving some long walks from green to tee and some tough holes on the back nine. Montgomerie already knew what to expect having made a victorious debut here last year with a five-under-par aggregate of 279.
"Playing here requires a very similar approach to the US Open at Congressional," he said. "Par here is a good score on any day. Like the US Open, if you make a par you're gaining on the field and that's what I try to take into these tougher courses."
The point would not be lost on Andrew Oldcorn who would have captured the title last year with a par at the 434-yard 18th. Instead he took a double-bogey six, 59 opening the door for Mongomerie to surge to victory with a birdie on the 17th and a par at the last.
But if par were so valuable, why was it that the public seemed to be obsessed with birdies? "I don't know if that's true," he replied. "I haven't seen any of the US Open on TV but I believe it made very good viewing. And all we (Ernie Els, himself, Tom Lehman and Jeff Maggert) were trying to do at the end of the day was make par."
Interesting point.
Though Philip Walton challenged promisingly at Mount Juliet in 1995, as John McHenry had done at the same venue two years previously, Irish players have not been battling at the finish of this event since Walton lost a play- off to Ian Woosnam in 1989. Prior to that, Des Smyth was tied second to Woosnam in 1988 and David Jones was seventh in 1987 and tied seventh the previous year.
On this occasion, there are no fewer than 29 Irishmen in the field, including amateur internationals Bryan Omelia, Adrian Morrow and Jody Fanagan, along with East of Ireland champion Sean Quinlivan. The main home challenge, however, should come from tour campaigners Clarke, Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley, Philip Walton, Smyth, Eamonn Darcy, Ronan Rafferty, Raymond Burns, David Higgins and Christy O'Connor Jnr.
In a broader context, the current top three in the Order of Merit - Woosnam, Bernhard Langer and Retief Goosen - are also in action. Their presence, added to such talents as Jose-Maria Olazabal, Faldo and Mongomerie, explains why this championship consistently produces a quality winner.
As Montgomerie put it: "We have a strong field on a very good course, playing for a title I'm proud to hold." One suspects he won't relinquish it too easily.
