GOLF/Irish Open: If this is the final drop of the black stuff, of the Murphy's variety, that the Irish Open will sup, then what more appropriate way for the brewing company to bid adieu as title sponsor than for a home winner to emerge?

Padraig Harrington thinks so, and Darren Clarke is inclined to agree. But, if there is an assumption that this tournament has lost some of its lustre, with a number of really big names staying away, and that the two will have it all their own way in a personalised duel, then nothing could be further from the truth.

In fact, no less than 10 players who have already tasted success on the PGA European Tour this season are included in the field, and there are some other heavyweights - including Colin Montgomerie and Thomas Bjorn - to consider too. All of which led Harrington, at 12, the highest ranked player in the world rankings competing, to observe: "I'm not really thinking about Darren, I'm thinking about all 155 players that I have to beat."

This may be Murphy's last time to sponsor the tournament, and the event's future may be uncertain, although Bord Fáilte - who are associate sponsors - say they are very committed to its long-term health, there remains a certain magical appeal to the Irish Open.

"An Irish Open would rank for me very close behind a major," insisted Harrington. "I want to win one, only one, I am not greedy."

Not since John O'Leary's win in 1982 has an Irishman won his home championship. Clarke, though, knows better than anyone that victory can be attained on Irish soil. In winning the Smurfit European Open at The K Club last year, he claimed it was akin to getting a monkey off his back. "It was a huge win for me, to win on home soil. It was fantastic, but certainly I would like to win the Irish Open as well."

So, the desire of Ireland's top two players cannot be questioned.

But, then, such was always the case. What makes winning so difficult, apart from the quality of the international invaders, is the added pressure that Irish players feel when playing at home. However, it is something that Harrington, for one, feels better able to cope with these days.

"You are nearly trying to win an Irish Open at the first hole of the 72, which can't be done. At a normal event you play your way in and only in the final holes are you worried about winning and losing. That's the difference with an Irish Open, it means so much to all of us."

In yesterday's pro-am, Harrington didn't display the form of a potential winner. His start on the back nine was 8-3-8-2, which was more like a telephone number in north Dublin than the form associated with a likely lad to end the Irish drought.

Undeterred, however, Harrington insists that an Irish Open win would mean a lot to his career. "It would probably be ahead of anything I have done. It is a different step up from any European Tour event. It is harder, not far behind a major in intensity. Individually, to win the Irish Open would certainly surpass any of the other tournaments I have won. I expect others are the same, they'd love to win their national open."

Although there are 18 Irish players in the field - 16 professionals and two amateurs - they are vastly outnumbered by the foreign invasion.

Of the Irish players, only Clarke, winner at the English Open three weeks ago, has won on tour this season. In contrast, nine of the international players - Adam Scott, Justin Rose, Richard Johnson, Arjun Atwal, Diego Borrego, Carl Petterson, Malcolm Mackenzie, Anders Hansen and Miles Tunnicliff - have been successful. Of them, only Rose, who also won a tournament in Japan, is a multiple winner.

The way that the European Tour has gone this season, however, there is always the potential for a surprise winner; and there are also a number of sleeping giants, like Bjorn and Lee Westwood, ready to reawaken, while the presence of Fred Funk provides a welcome American aspect to the event.

Some tweaking has been done to the course since it hosted the tournament a year ago, most noticeably the creation of run-off areas at the back of the 10th and the 18th, two par fives.

The rough is also marginally thicker, although, in line with recommendations from the European Tour's Players' Committee, an intermediate cut - of 75mm - has been created between the fairways and the heavy stuff.

"I'd say the course is harder than a year ago," opined Harrington. "The greens (measuring 10 on the stimpmeter) are not as fast, so guys will hole more putts without a doubt. The greens are releasing more, so that will make it tougher; and I think the rough is tougher. So, one easier and two other tougher elements."

Given that he has raised his game for the two majors this season, securing top 10 finishes in both the US Masters and the US Open, and given that he puts the Irish Open just a step behind in intensity, one suspects that Harrington is up for this week. He could well be "The Man".

•Former Ryder Cup player Costantino Rocca - and his team of Barra O'Dwyer, Bill Hanley and Paul O'Rourke - captured the top prize with a total of 14-under-par 57, with one counting score on each hole.

Irish Open Pro-am: 57 - C Rocca with B O'Dwyer, B Hanley, P O'Rourke; on countback from S Luna with D Coffey, A Hay, D Ryan; C Pettersen with P Lynch, N Fox, B Phelan; N O'Hern with N O'Callaghan, D O'Reilly, P Whelan. 58 - I Poulter with J Seman, B Lehane, E O'Connell; S Webster with L Deering, B Connolly, C Killeen; P Price with T Cleary, E O'Doherty, R Cosgrave; A Hansen with L Crawford, J Liston, J Clohissy.