The 19-year-old Spanish sensation Sergio Garcia was mobbed when he appeared on the driving range at Castle Pines Golf Club on Tuesday morning, not just by autograph hunters but also by players and caddies, all wanting to congratulate him on his performance in last week's PGA championship.

Now in the elite top 60 on the PGA tour moneylist after competing in only six counting events, Garcia has the opportunity to join the tour as a full member next season, already possessing the status of a temporary member and thus able to accept unlimited sponsors' invitations. In addition to countless tournament directors wanting his services over the remainder of this season in the United States, manufacturers' representatives galore are also standing in line with mouth-watering contracts just waiting for a signature.

"I really like playing here in the States, but I also like to be with my family and I do not want to go a whole year without seeing them, so we will wait to decide," said Garcia yesterday.

There is no danger of such an absence occurring, as members only need to compete in 15 tournaments to retain their status and with the four major championships in addition to the three new World Golf Championship tournaments all counting, Garcia would be almost halfway there.

Darren Clarke is competing in the International in the United States for the first time. The International is a unique event as it is not decided by strokeplay, and is played using a modified form of the Stableford scoring system.

Players gain no points for par, two for birdie, five for an eagle and eight for an albatross, but on the negative side, there are deductions of one point for a bogey and three points for a double bogey or worse.

Clarke is joined in the field by Lee Westwood, Jimenez, and Jose Maria Olazabal among others.

International Elaine Dowdall, the sole competitor from Ireland, made a somewhat disappointing start to her challenge at the Ladies British Open Amateur Stroke Play golf title at Huddersfield yesterday. The 21-year-old student returned an opening round 81 to be 10 strokes behind Dutch leader Nienke Nijenhuis.