Ernie Els, the reigning US Open champion, is to return to the Murphy's Irish Open at Druids Glen on July 2nd to 5th. With Colin Montgomerie expected to defend the title, it will mean an extension to Irish terrain of the growing rivalry between this pair.
The 6 ft 3 in South African first played in the Irish Open at Killarney in 1992 when he tied with Milltown amateur, Jody Fanagan, for 65th place behind Nick Faldo. But less than two weeks after his first US Open triumph at Oakmont in 1994, he returned to the championship at Mount Juliet where he was eighth behind Bernhard Langer.
Els made his last Irish Open appearance at Druids Glen in 1996 when he was tied 12th behind Montgomerie. Since then, his rivalry with the Scot intensified when he held off Montgomerie's challenge in the US Open at Congressional last June. But Monty beat him earlier this month in the semifinals of the Andersen Consulting Championship in Arizona.
The sponsors have also received confirmation of an entry from Jose-Maria Olazabal. Winner of the event in 1990 at Portmarnock, he has been a particularly faithful supporter of the Irish Open since being given a sponsor's invitation as an amateur at Royal Dublin in 1985.
As it happens, Olazabal will be in action in the Heineken Classic which starts at the Vines Resort, Perth, Australia, on Thursday. The Irish challengers there will be Ronan Rafferty, Philip Walton, Paul McGinley, Padraig Harrington, Raymond Burns and Francis Howley.
In fact there will be four current Ryder Cup players in action - the 1996 champion Ian Woosnam, Bernhard Langer, Thomas Bjorn and Olazabal. The tournament was won last year by Miguel-Angel Martin, who beat Fred Couples into second place.
Leading Irishman on that occasion was Harrington, who shot a course record 63 in the second round on the way to claiming a share of 11th place, while Darren Clarke was four strokes further back, tied 25th. Clarke's current concerns, however, centre on a move from Portrush to a new home in Sunningdale.
The Ulsterman is sticking by his plans not to return to action until the Malaysian Open on February 19th, which is an open week on the European Tour schedule. After that, he makes the relatively short journey to Dubai for the Desert Classic, followed by the inaugural Qatar Masters.
The presence of Tiger Woods in Phuket greatly enhanced the World Ranking points for the event. And it is a factor which may draw McGinley to the South African PGA Championship in Johannesburg on February 12th to 15th.
"Greg Norman, Ernie Els and Nick Price and in the field, so there are bound to be plenty of ranking points on offer," said the Dubliner yesterday. "In normal circumstances, it's not an event that would appeal to me, given the amount of travelling involved.
"But with so much importance now attached to world ranking positions, I will have to give it serious consideration. Quite frankly, that's the main reason I went to Phuket."
Howley, who regained his card at the Tour School last November, is now returning to serious tournament action. But a fellow graduate, David Higgins, will have to wait a little longer.
The Waterville player fractured one wrist and sprained the other in a fall off a horse on New Year's Eve. Happily, the damage has healed satisfactorily and the plaster will be removed on Friday. This will allow him to ease himself back onto the practice ground next week with a view to a comeback, possibly in Dubai, but more likely in Qatar.
