EVENTS in Dubai last weekend have left Scottish golf in its most buoyant state since Sandy Lyle captured the US Masters title in 1988. Colin Montgomerie's victory in the Desert Classic has lifted him from fourth to number two in the world rankings and the Scots are also revelling in the depth of their current talent.

While they realistically look to having a world number one to match the British achievements of Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam, there will be particular Scottish interest in this year's Masters on April 11th to 14th. With four challengers at Augusta, they can claim a higher representation than any country in the world, apart from the host nation.

Montgomerie will obviously spearhead the Scottish challenge. In fact, starting on March 28th, he will compete in four successive US events.

The Players' Championship, the BellSouth Classic, the Masters and the Heritage Classic. And he will be joined at Augusta by Lyle, Sam Torrance and last year's British Amateur champion, Gordon Sherry - all 6ft 8ins of him.

Sherry, who made such a significant contribution to the Walker Cup victory over the US at Royal Porthcawl last September, is expected to turn professional shortly after returning from Augusta next month.

And his potential is enormous when one considers a share of fourth place behind Wayne Riley in the Scottish Open at Carnoustie last July and a share of 39th place in the British Open at St Andrews a week later.

Meanwhile, even in the absence of Darren Clarke, Ireland could have 12 challengers in the Portuguese Open, which starts at Aroeira, south of Lisbon, on Thursday. Among them will be the 22 year old Ulster player Raymond Burns, fresh from a splendid effort in Dubai, where he finished tied fifth behind Montgomerie last Sunday.

His current form is certain to boost Irish spirits on tour, particularly a rookie like Padraig Harrington who will be making his fourth appearance of the season. Both of these players have had successful amateur careers characterised by impressive strokeplay performances and climaxed by appearances in the Walker Cup. But whereas Burns graduated from the Challenge Tour, the more mature Harrington has gone straight into the European Tour with apparent ease.

The Stackstown player achieved the precious breakthrough of making the cut in his first event this year, in the FNB Players' Championship in Durban. And he has maintained admirable consistency in two tournaments since then, even if the Catalan Open was reduced to 36 holes because of rain. In fact, he has a stroke average of 72.25 for 10 competitive rounds, ranging from a 69 in the second round of the Catalan to a 76 in the final round of the Moroccan Open. "Making cuts has given me a very nice start," he said before heading off to Portugal. "It was certainly a big relief to get through the first one in Durban." He went on: "Obviously it would have been great to play in Dubai but in a way, missing it was a blessing in that it gave be the time to work my game last week." Ironically, he is least happy about the short iron shots which were the strength of his game as an amateur. "My chipping and bunker play could be better and my pitching from inside 100 yards is also not as sharp as I would like," he said.

"They're the important bread and butter shot". Interestingly, Harrington doesn't see a great gap in standard in the step up to professional ranks. In this contest, his attitude reflects a significant overall change from the time when it was believed that amateurs had to make radical adjustments to have any hope of success in paid ranks - even to the extent of modifying their swing.

"Over a 12 month period up to last May, I had a sub 70 stroke average in amateur competition," he added. "Sure, there are areas that need to be tightened up but I don't see the need for any major changes in technique. I'm simply trying to do my own thing and set myself realistic targets, like retaining my card for next year." The Irish players already in the Portuguese lineup are Ronan Rafferty, David Feherty, Des Smyth, Eamonn Darcy, Christy O'Connor Jnr, Burns, Paul McGinley, Francis Howley, Harrington and John McHenry. And the indications are that David Higgins, who was third reserve last weekend, will get in while Jimmy Heggarty also has a chance.

After Portugal, Feherty will return to Dallas for a three week break before making his first US appearance of the season on a sponsor's invitation into the Byron Nelson Classic starting on May 9th. In the meantime, he expects to be part of the CBS commentary team - with Gary McCord et al - for the BellSouth Classic in Atlanta over Easter weekend. And he could also be called upon for the Masters the following week.

As a postscript to Burns's exploits in Dubai, his caddie Brian Byrne informed me yesterday of the exchange between them on the 18th fairway as they considered the player's position, 256 yards from the flag and with menacing water to negotiate.

"After I had given Raymie the yardage, I suggested a nine iron would be sufficient for a lay up shot," said the Dubliner, who previously worked with McGinley. According to the caddie, Burns replied: "Give me the three wood; I'm not playing for five grand." And so the decision was made.

When Burns smashed the ball arrow straight to set up an eagle three by landing it nine feet above the pin, he was, in fact, rewarded with considerably more than "five grand" - £25,140 to be precise. And he sets out today in pursuit of further reward in Portugal.

In the US, it is the time of the Cinderella men. After Tim Herron's victory in the Honda Classic, Paul Goydos gained a similar breakthrough in the Bay Hill Invitational last weekend. The transformation in the fortunes of Goydos can be gauged from the fact that by the end of last season, he had decidedly modest career earnings of $475,333 since turning professional in 1989.

On Sunday, however, his average earnings went up dramatically when he captured top prize of $216,000 at Bay Hill. It was the sort of happening to warm the heart of the tournament host, Arnold Palmer, who knew what it was to struggle early in his career.

Apart from earning a place in the current top 10 of the US money list, Goydos will be greatly relieved not to have to face what was for him the regular torment of the US Tour School, at least not for the next few years.