Irish eight pack down

It has been described as a sadistic ritual, a form of torture perpetrated on a body of men united in one quest: to win a tour card. Next Thursday, eight Irish players will join a cosmopolitan entry from virtually every golfing nation in the battle for a right to compete on next season's PGA European Tour when the 108-hole, final qualifying tournament takes place at San Roque and Guadalmina.

Perversely, this battle of mind and body will be enacted in close proximity to the Ryder Cup venue at Valderrama where, last September, the sport's superstars, players not in the remotest danger of losing their playing privileges, enthralled the golfing world. This time round, there will be no live television and a spartan media centre. A different world.

Yet, it is the most important tournament of the year for every participant. Among them are the likes of Michael Campbell, the Kiwi who almost won the British Open, and David A Russell, an Englishman who had the distinction of winning the first ever tour school in 1976. Twenty-one years on, Russell is back where he started. There are 40 cards (reduced from 50 in previous years) up for grabs, with the players negotiating six rounds of strokeplay. The eight Irish players chasing their cards are: David Higgins, Richard Coughlan, Francis Howley, John Murray, Sean Quinlivan, Stephen Hamill, Jim Carvill and Cameron Clark.

Higgins has been in the position before, two years ago. Even though he is acquainted with the two courses from his successful 1995 endeavours, Higgins decided to head out there a fortnight ago to have another look: "This event is so important that I didn't want to take any chances," he explained. "I just wanted to refresh my memory, have a look to see how the courses were, and to see what faces me."

Higgins made the fact-finding trip out to the south of Spain along with Quinlivan, another Kerryman, who is making his first appearance at the tour school. The East of Ireland champion turned professional in September.

After retaining his card last season, with a 99th place finish in the Order of Merit, Higgins struggled this year. He eventually finished in 157th position in the final money list, not good enough even to avoid a visit to Pre-Qualifying II. In the event, he overcame that particular obstacle to make it to the final qualifying.

"I've talked to a number of people I respect since the end of the season, and they've helped to straighten out my mental attitude. I'm much stronger. Now, I believe a round is always retrievable - something I didn't believe during much of the season," said Higgins.

As proof, the Waterville player recalled a round of golf he had at The European Club last week. "I was two-over par after 12 holes, but went birdie-birdie-eagle from the 13th. That demonstrates the kind of adjustment I have made in my approach. I believe I can do anything, turn any round around.

"This season, I was getting dispirited during a round if something went against me. However, this is the best I have ever been mentally before an important challenge. During the year, I was frustrated a lot simply because I know how well I can play, and I wasn't playing up to my potential. But I've been talking to people who have been there and I have come to terms. I have the inner belief that I can do it." The moment of truth arrives this week. From Thursday through to next Tuesday, the quest for 1998 European Tour cards will be enacted in the toughest, cruellest environment any professional golfer can ever expect to face. Only 40 will emerge with precious tickets to join the "big guns" on the circuit next year.

The European Cup - between the European Seniors' Tour and the WPGET - didn't create the "goodwill" that was intended. At one stage in the inaugural event at Praia D'El Rey in Portugal last weekend, the women expressed doubt on whether or not they would be willing to make the match an annual one. The seniors' won 13-7, and Tommy Horton remarked: "I don't think anyone realised how much of an advantage the men would have in the fourball format when you can be very aggressive and go for everything."

The women were hampered from the off by the unavailability of their top players - Laura Davies, Lisa Hackney, Annika Sorenstam, Liselotte Neumann and Helen Alfredson.

Bernhard Langer has been voted the European Tour's Johnnie Walker Golfer of the Month for October. A week after the Ryder Cup victory at Valderrama, Langer became only the eighth man in tour history to shoot a round of 60 and went on to win the Linde German Masters in Berlin by six shots from Colin Montgomerie.