Ireland go into shoot out with South Africa

NO wonder golf can sometimes drive people demented. A stiff wind, but nowhere near the gales predicted, transformed the Old Course from a lady into a beast and caused general mayhem to some of the world's top players - most notably Europe's number one Colin Montgomerie - in the Alfred Dunhill Cup at St Andrews yesterday.

There was an element of crazy golf about it all, with the Scots relinquishing their crown without so much as a whimper - even if, some 20 minutes after India's shock win over them, Montgomerie still thought they had escaped such an embarrassing outcome and, elsewhere, unheralded England effectively threw away a golden chance to usurp top seeds, the United States.

Yet, amid such chaos, Ireland's `young guns' kept their composure to defeat Canada 3-0 and set up a Group 3 head to head with South Africa, who also have a one hundred per cent record. Padraig Harrington ensured a clean sweep over the Canadians when rolling in an eight foot birdie putt at the first tie hole to beat Rick Todd. Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley had already guaranteed an Irish, win, however, winning their respective matches in normal time, so to speak.

It was somewhat ironic that the Scots had literally prayed for a stronger wind after their first day defeat to Sweden. A stiff south southwesterly wind, gusting to 40 miles an hour at times, duly arrived and toughened up the course considerably. McGinley estimated the wind added an extra three clubs to some shots on the homeward journey and, indeed, the scoring was significantly higher than Thursday, with just eight players - compared to 32 breaking par.

"I hope the wind stays around we were brought up in it," quipped McGinley, relishing the prospect of a clash with the South Africans and the opportunity to claim a semi final place. While Ireland and South Africa meet in a direct tussle today to top Group Three, elsewhere things appear to favour the USA, Sweden and Australia to emerge from their respective groups.

The Scots, though, were all a little bemused by the cruel fate inflicted on them again at the home of golf. Especially Montgomerie. He'd been misinformed about Andrew Coltart's sudden death duel with Jeev Singh and actually thought Scotland had scrambled a win out of the carnage.

Montgomerie had birdied the last to spare some blushes and, at least, avoid the embarrassment of signing for an 80, although he still lost his match by a stroke to India's Gaurav Ghei, a player ranked some 694 places behind him in the world rankings. However, Montgomerie still believed he was the only Scottish loser and talked gobbledygook, claiming they could still qualify, until it was pointed out to him that Coltart had lost, not won.

"What? You lost?" snapped a stunned Montgomerie. His young Scottish colleague could only look at the ground and nod, to which Monty drew back in his chair, shook his head, and, to his credit, managed a nervous giggle. He was finally aware that the champions had lost their crown in somewhat bizarre fashion.

Just a few moments earlier, the big Scot had been complaining about people leaving rakes outside bunkers (he had marked up a triple bogey seven at the sixth when his ball "it was going nowhere near the bunker," he lamented hit a rake and ploughed into sand) and, realised, such talk was now futile. Scotland were gone.

Ireland, however, remained on the right track. It wasn't a day for any histrionics, just sensible play. When Clarke's opponent Ricky Gibson ran up a triple bogey seven at the fourth to give the Ulsterman a three shot advantage, "I decided to play the man after that, not to worry about my score," he said. So it was that Clarke won with a 76 to Gibson's 80.

McGinley, revelling in his captain's role, produced the best golf of the Irish trio. He was three under at the turn (sinking a 15 footer at the eighth and gladly taking two tap in birdies at the fifth and ninth) to be four up on Jim Rutledge. "It was just a matter of not doing anything silly after that, ensuring I kept a double bogey off my card," said McGinley, who finished with a 71 to his rival's 77.

Rookie Harrington was two up on Todd after seven holes and one ahead at the turn. "I lost my rhythm a bit on the way back in the wind," he admitted, and was forced into a play off situation when the two players finished with 735. However, he ensured a happy team meeting in The Jigger Inn to discuss tactics for the showdown with South Africa when rolling in the eight footer for birdie to record a whitewash over the Canadians.

South Africa were also a collective four over par in beating Wales 2-1, with former US Open champion Ernie Els providing the inspiration. He shot a two under par 70 to be 10 shots better than Mark Mouland, although the Welshman was subsequently disqualified under Rule 20-7 for taking a drop outside a bunker at the 14th.

Wayne Westner was six shots up on Paul Affleck at the turn and coasted to a win (72 to Affleck's 76), but Retief Goosen struggled again, and his 78 was five shots worse off than Philip Price. "I'm heading off to the practice ground, I have to sort out a lot of problems," said a demoralised Goosen, who will face Clarke today.

There were some remarkable occurrences around the course, most dramatically in England's encounter with favourites USA. Mark O'Meara came back down to earth with a thump after his 63 on Thursday when playing opponent Barry Lane reeled off 18 straight pars to beat him in the top match.

England had seemed to be in the driving scat for much of the clash. Jonathan Lomas, for instance, was two up on Steve Stricker after 13 holes but then went out of bounds twice at the 14th, recorded a quadruple bogey nine to the American's birdie, for a five shot swing in the space of 10 minutes. When Lomas contrived to add a triple bogey seven at the 17th, his plight was beyond salvation.

Still, the unseeded English still had a chance to beat the Americans with Lee Westwood one up on Phil Mickelson with three to play. However, Mickelson went birdie par birdie over the finishing stretch to win by a stroke. "That's why he is number one in the US just now," said a watching O'Meara.

Today, the slide rules will be out as the quest for semi final places will be decided. There are any number of permutations in three of the four groups, depending on results, the only clear cut battle is that between Ireland and South Africa in Group Three. It is simple: the winners go through.