Faldo can win favour of Spanish task-master

THEY could hardly be less alike the proud, emotional Spaniard and the clinically pragmatic Englishman. But in a golfing sense, Seve Ballesteros and Nick Faldo have much in common, as major champions and three-time winners of the Murphy's Irish Open, which starts at Druids Glen tomorrow.

Both sampled the course in practice yesterday and a particularly interesting draw has them playing in successive three-balls in the opening two rounds. Which, in his capacity as Ryder Cup captain, will allow the Spaniard keep tabs on a player who is potentially his greatest asset.

Though concerned about damp greens which were especially susceptible to "spiking", Faldo seemed pleased with his experience of the outward journey. He will be in a better position to make a proper assessment of the charming, Co Wicklow layout, however, after today's pro-am.

Meanwhile, he was highly enthused about a visit to Royal Co Down on Monday evening, prior to his arrival here. "It's a wonderful piece of land with some truly wonderful holes," he said. "I thought Shinnecock Hills was perhaps the toughest course I had played but I'll have to think again, particularly in view of those small, Co Down greens."

Faldo, who is seeking a suitable site on which to build a links in this country, is determined that his homework should be as, comprehensive as possible. So it was that he made a return visit to Royal St George's last weekend and has plans to go back to Ulster to savour the delights of Royal Portrush, another classic links.

There was "a good 20 mph breeze blowing" when he visited Newcastle. But he seemed to handle the course impressively, despite it's famous blind shots. His favourite hole was the short fourth but he had the distinction of making an eagle from the new back tee at the long 12th which he reduced to a drive, 230-yard one-iron and a five-foot putt.

All the while, he took countless photographs of a legendary golfing stretch, where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea. "Ireland offers a great golfing experience," he said, by way of explaining his return to the Irish Open after a lapse of two years. "I love everything about it - the courses and the people."

Aware that Ballesteros will be looking over his shoulder, Faldo went on to suggest that "every day will be a challenge," as he competes in the Irish Open, Loch Lomond Invitational and the British Open over the next three weeks. "If I play well and win one of them, I could qualify for the Ryder Cup," he said.

The Englishman has taken a two-week break since a miserable final round of 76 pushed him down to a share of 48th place in the US Open at Congressional. He has played a total of 13 tournaments this season, two of them in Europe.

Last January, Faldo was tied fourth behind Ernie Els in the Johnnie Walker Classic in Queensland and his other appearance brought a share of second place with Darren Clarke in the Volvo PGA Championship, which Ian Woosnam captured. But his American form has been erratic.

Victory in the Los Angeles Open four months ago - his sixth in the US - was followed by indifferent scoring during April and May, before he gained a share of third place in the Kemper Open last month. The most hurtful lapse unquestionably came at his favourite venue, Augusta National, where he missed the cut after a miserable second round of 81.

That's the sort of scoring Ballesteros has been living with for much of this season, leading to eight missed cuts in 10 European tournaments. So it is hardly surprising that the Spaniard commands more interest for his activities as a course architect - he is in charge of design at Killeen Castle, Co Meath - and captain of the Ryder Cup team.

As for Druids Glen, Ballesteros said: "I think this course should be a model for the way European Tour courses are set up. It is tough but I am happy to see it that way. I would like to see more tournaments played in these conditions. It is better for the European Tour and better for the Ryder Cup."

In a way, it seems remarkable that the once-feared conquistador should battle on, given his worsening back problems. "It is never going to be good," he admitted resignedly. "It will never be really 100 per cent and I have to deal with it mentally and be prepared to hang on and deal with the pain.

And how was it now? "It is tough when the weather is cold like today," he replied. "My last tournament was in Hamburg (the Deutsche Bank Open, in which he missed the cut)." That was a week after the Volvo PGA Championship in which he was forced to withdraw after only one round.

Against that background, Faldo's triple bogey seven at the sixth hole during the final round of the US Open, was no more than an irritation. Indeed the golfing horizon looks very much brighter for the Englishman right now - even if he feels obliged to win the favour of a demanding Spanish task-master.

Padraig Harrington got an early taste of success in Irish Open week when he teamed up with cam Torrance in a pan-celtic alliance to win the Canon Shoot-Out at Druids Glen yesterday.

Harrington and Torrance collected Pounds 2,300 each for their troubles, along with a product of their choice from the Canon range. The Irishman holed a 15 footer for birdie at the 389-yard par four ninth hole to fend off the challenge of Robert Allenby and Costantino Rocca.

Harrington goes to the top of this season's Canon Shoot-out Order of Merit. The final will take place at the European Masters in Crans-sur- Sierre, Switzerland, on September 2nd.