DRUIDS GLEN richly deserves the opportunity of staging the Murphy's Irish Open again next year, if only for the significant improvements evident last weekend. And from the sponsor's stand-point there is the built-in certainty that its greatest admirer, Colin Montgomerie, will be back to defend the title.
Before heading out on what proved to be a memorable final round on Sunday, the Scot was informed of the decision. "That gave me a special lift," he said, with one of his more disarming smiles.
Logistical problems remain at Druids Glen, largely caused by a need to spread the various facilities about the perimeter of the course, as opposed to having them centralised around the clubhouse. But significant improvements to the clubhouse area, most notably the installation of a pub, greatly enhanced the general atmosphere of the tournament.
Pat Ruddy and Tom Craddock, the course designers, were somewhat restricted for space when undertaking the layout originally, which left them with no option other than to use the land behind the clubhouse. Since then, however, additional land was acquired by the owners at end of the course beyond the 13th hole.
The point is that for a major undertaking such as the Irish Open, there is insufficient space around the clubhouse to achieve a properly integrated site. This is a direct consequence of the fact that the area is effectively cut off by the first, second and third holes.
Had space been available elsewhere to the designers for those three holes, the land behind and to the left of the clubhouse could accommodate the tented village, corporate hospitality, practice ground and indeed all the other elements of a major tournament. It must be acknowledged, however, that in all other circumstances, the layout works beautifully.
Montgomerie certainly had reason to be pleased with the reception he received as he raised his arms in triumph on the 72nd green. In his 16th tournament this season, he brought his scoring aggregate for the year to a stunning 97-under-par - 76-under-par for nine appearances in Europe and 21- under for seven events in the US.
He has yet to miss a cut, which means he has played 64 rounds and, in the process, carded 28 rounds in the 60s.
Montgomerie is now challenging for the Gulfstream Loch Lomond Invitational, starting tomorrow at the Tom Weiskopf layout where Thomas Bjorn triumphed last September. With five exemptions into the British Open and Pounds 800,000 in prize money at stake, there are nine Irish challengers - Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley, Ronan Rafferty, Des Smyth, Eamonn Darcy, Philip Walton, Raymond Burns and David Higgins.
Notable invitees include British Open champion Tom Lehman, Greg Norman, Steve Jones, Vijay Singh, Jesper Parnevik and Payne Stewart.
