Coughlan targets Irish Open

Richard Coughlan, who is now based in New York, has booked his holidays at home in Ireland, but he is still unsure whether he will receive an invitation to play in the Murphy's Irish Open at Ballybunion from June 29th to July 2nd.

Coughlan, a former Walker Cup player, is currently playing on the NGA Hooters Tour - considered the number one development tour in the US - where he finished third and second in his last two tournaments.

The Offaly man aims to prequalify for next week's Buy.Com Tour event and the following week's Buick Classic at Westchester on the full US Tour. But his big hope is to secure a sponsor's invitation to the Irish Open.

Coughlan, the touring professional attached to Luttrellstown Castle, plans to return home on June 19th - "so I can have a full week's practice for Ballybunion, if I'm fortunate enough to get an invite", he says - and also plans to play in the regional qualifying for the British Open.

Last year, Coughlan was one of just three Irish players (with Eamonn Darcy and Des Smyth) to survive the cut in the Irish Open and Coughlan claims he is now in much better form.

"I have lost one and a half stones in weight since Christmas, mainly due to extra road running - I make sure I run religiously every day - and also regular workouts in the gym.

"I've discovered that my concentration on Saturdays and Sundays (of tournaments) has improved as a result, but also I am much stronger physically."

He feels he has put the chest injury which forced him to miss four weeks of competition in 1998, his rookie season on the US Tour, behind him. He narrowly missed out on retaining his tour card that year.

Last Friday, Coughlan narrowly failed to emerge from regional qualifying for the US Open when he was involved in a seven-man play-off for the fourth and final spot on offer at Albany, in upstate New York. "One guy birdied the first play-off hole, and that was that," he says.

"However, I have definitely benefited from playing regular tournament golf this season. My game is as good as it ever has been, and I would love to get that opportunity to play in Ballybunion."