At a time when everybody, it seems, wants Tiger Woods to play in their tournament - and are willing to pay handsomely for the privilege - it's the return to Ireland of the Golden Bear himself, Jack Nicklaus, that is set to give the seal of approval to the Senior British Open, presented by MasterCard, which takes place at Royal County Down from July 26th to 29th.

Nicklaus' competitive outings in this country have been rare, confined to head-to-head exhibitions. In 1976, he took on Seve Ballesteros - and lost - in the Champion of Champions at Royal Dublin and, subsequently, in 1993, he met Christy O'Connor Snr - and lost again - in a match to officially open Mount Juliet.

Last year, Nicklaus bade an emotional farewell to the British Open at St Andrews, when he made his last appearance at that championship, and now, at the age of 61, he has kept a promise to play in its senior equivalent. What made that promise easier to keep was the fact that the championship is being played over the Newcastle links. As Nicklaus admitted: "I have never had the opportunity to participate in this event and I have always wanted to play Royal County Down. Before I finish my career, I thought it appropriate to combine the opportunities and play both. I am very much looking forward to it."

While Nicklaus will be making his debut in a championship that has an increased prize fund of £500,000 sterling, Arnold Palmer has stated his intention to compete for a ninth time, but will be making his first visit since 1995. Gary Player, a perennial visitor to the championship - winning in 1988, 1990 and 1997 - will also be competing. Between them, the three players have accumulated 34 majors and 19 senior majors throughout their careers.

Palmer agreed that the lure of finally playing Royal Co Down was the carrot that made him return after a six-year break. "It's an historic course that I've heard so much about for so many years but never played," he remarked.

"When this event was started, we could only dream of these three players participating," remarked Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Seniors Tour. "They have all played huge roles in promoting golf around the world and we are now seeing the results of their legacy in terms of the game's global profile. They have records as long as your arm and their commitment to this year's championship is an indication of how it has grown and grown in stature.

"We have been chipping away and talking to them over the years to get them to play, but it helps when you have got a course that they all want to play."

Kenny Stevenson, who plays on the European Senior Tour, remarked yesterday that it was "fitting that the three players should grace the championship after such distinguished careers, and it is marvellous that the three should be doing so at Royal County Down." In fact, it was also confirmed yesterday that the event, which has been played in Northern Ireland for the past seven years, will again be played over the links next year.

There had been speculation that Tom Watson would also enter this year's event, but that has not materialised. "If that happened, we'd have a nap hand," conceded Stubbs. "But I'm sure that playing in the championship at some stage is something Tom aspires to."

Unfortunately, Christy O'Connor Jnr, who has won the championship for the past two years, won't be able to seek a "three-peat". The Galwayman suffered a severe double break in his leg when his motorbike fell over on him and he is expected to be in the protective cage that surrounds his leg for up to another four months.

However, this year's championship will have the strongest international field ever with Japan's Isao Aoki, a winner on the European Tour in his regular career, and who has won eight times on the US Seniors Tour, and Dave Stockton, the 1991 US Ryder Cup captain, also entered.