New lay-out to heighten drama

This is the fifth staging of the Smurfit European Open at The K Club, but it is likely to be the last occasion that competitors will play the current lay-out. Indeed, when the event returns for a sixth time next season, players will be used in an experiment to discover if a proposed re-routing of the course will work for the Ryder Cup in 2005.

In a quite fascinating move, aimed at heightening the drama and spectator entertainment over the finishing stretch of holes, it is planned, in effect, to switch nines - with two notable exceptions, the ninth and 18th - so that the River Liffey will come more into play on two of the last three holes.

So, the re-routed course will see players starting at what is now the 10th hole, rather than the first. However, from the present 17th, competitors will progress to the ninth in order to complete the outward journey. The back nine will comprise the present first to eighth holes and the existing 18th, a magnificent finishing hole.

The proposed re-routing can be achieved remarkably easily thanks to the close proximity of the 17th green, eighth green, 18th tee and ninth tee and will not cause any disruption. It is all geared towards the staging of the Ryder Cup in six years and means the acclaimed 16th hole, known as "Michael's Favourite," which backs onto the Liffey, will become the seventh.

However, it is generally accepted the this 16th hole and, indeed, the short 17th, which runs along the river bank, are not spectator friendly. So, in place of the current 4-3-5 finish, the new layout would see a 5-4-5 finish with water in play on each hole. Just the sort of sequence that is made for the Ryder Cup, in fact.

It is intended that members of the club will try out the new routing at the start of next year and the next step would be to introduce it to top-level competition in next year's Millennium staging of the European Open.

"We should get invaluable feedback from the tour professionals," said Michael Smurfit. "They will be able to tell us if the routing will work out during the Ryder Cup. Quite frankly, I find the whole concept terribly exciting."

The switch of nines will lead to a closing stretch of holes that has a far greater capacity for spectator viewing, thus heightening excitement. There is also the proposed modification of the current seventh hole (which would be the 16th under the new lay-out) to make it possible for players to go for the green in two. "As things stand, the length of the hole means it is out of reach in two for even the longest hitters," said Paul McGinley, the touring professional at the Straffan facility.

The hole is 606 yards, but it is intended to shorten it to make it a reachable Par 5. "It is already a great spectator hole and this would produce all sorts of exciting possibilities, with long second shots being aimed at the heavily guarded green, tucked in on its own island in the Liffey," said Smurfit.

There are also plans to lengthen the eighth hole from its present 375 yards so that players will not be automatically looking to hit an iron off the tee for safety.

"It will throw up the possibility of two eagles in the last three holes, not unlike the finish at Wentworth, which has created tremendous excitement in the World Matchplay Championship. All of these changes have stemmed from an awareness that the Ryder Cup calls for something special in that we cannot assume matches are going to go the distance."

Although the changes are being proposed with the Ryder Cup in mind, they appear to make so much sense that it could lead to a permanent re-routing. All of which would mean that this year's European Open will be the last professional tournament to be played under the existing lay-out.