IRISH AMATEUR OPEN: These new courses, built for the modern age of balls that travel farther and clubheads that make sure they do go the extra distance, provide a quite different test for aspiring champions. As Noel Fox, the Walker Cup player who defends his AIB Irish Amateur Open strokeplay title over the Montgomerie Course at Carton House starting today, admitted, "playing here is a bit like playing Monty himself!"
Fox, one of a strong home contingent seeking to fend off an exceptionally strong international invasion force in a championship that is now firmly re-established on the calendar, expanded, "This presents a real test of a player's course management more than anything else. Colin obviously has a very clear idea of how he wants you to play this course and there is no way you'll conquer it if you try to bully it."
In practice on Wednesday, Fox, who returned the trophy only yesterday, found that it was next to impossible to reach some of the par fours such was the strength of the wind on this inland course that has many characteristics of linksland golf.
"Whether it blows or not over the three days, it is going to present a very difficult challenge for everyone," he opined.
Certainly, for a new layout only opened for play a year ago, the Montgomerie course has been given a quick baptism with the field of international amateurs from 10 countries containing many who will eventually aspire to play on the professional circuit.
However, the teenage hotshot from South Africa, Anton Haig, a plus-five handicapper who won last year's South African matchplay championship, has withdrawn.
Instead, he took up a late offer to play in this week's British Masters at the Forest of Arden.
One home-grown hotshot is in the field, though. Rory McIlroy, who turned 15 on Tuesday last, is part of an Irish challenge that will attempt to maintain a period of dominance from home players since it was revived in 1995 which has included the likes of Padraig Harrington, Keith Nolan, Gary Cullen, Michael Hoey and Fox claiming the title, while Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa and England's Richard McEvoy all tclaimed the title.
Of the group of winners, Fox is the only player still in the amateur ranks.
Apart from Fox, who tees off today alongside his Walker Cup colleague Nigel Edwards of Wales, other Irish players with strong prospects of winning include European strokeplay champion Brian McElhinney, and current internationals Johnny Foster and Darren Crowe.
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