Stars give course instant heritage

Official Opening Heritage GC: Following the Big Bang Theory of Golf Course Promotion, yesterday was up there with the creation of the world. John Daly, Vijay Singh, Padraig Harrington Seve Ballesteros and - Boom - you have Sky television hanging out of the trees and the national media pouring over the fairways and greens of the Heritage golf course, writes Johnny Watterson in Killenard

Seve and the three amigos came riding high into Killenard, Co Laois, their irons flashing, smiles at the ready. A championship golf course comes to life.

A golfing clinic from the players and Seve demonstrating bunker shots as well as hosting the event on the course he co-designed, thrilled a crowd of about 2,000 as effectively as a magician at a four-year-old's birthday party. The five-times major champion then let them down gently just before lunch.

"Gary Murphy will take my place," he explained, a back problem keeping him out of the Europe versus America Heritage Challenge. "Anyway, he's probably better than me," Seve added mournfully. No one knows when the legendary Spaniard will play again, not even himself.

"In Spain we say bad things don't last for 100 years," was as definitive as he could be.

Vijay was first up at the swing clinic. Effortlessly licking the ball off the putting-green-flat practice area, his willowy swish peppering an apron of green grass about 150 yards out. Vijay has a simple method of pitching golf balls.

"I try to get a rhythm. I just count one, two. Like this. One . . . two . . .," he said as another ball fizzed off into the darkening sky.

Spookily as he moved off centre stage for Harrington and looked down the practice area, so tight and consistent was his wedge it appeared as if someone had spilled out a bag of balls on a large puddle-sized spot.

"One thing you might relate to is that when you address the ball, it's like sitting on the edge of a bar stool," said Harrington, accompanying the explanation with a shallow squat, a straight back and two powerful forearms straining out in front. The Irish man, his obsessionally sculpted physique a counterpoint to the softer contoured Daly, had his own instructions to follow.

"Hit the ball high," instructed Seve. "Hit the ball low," he followed. "Hit the ball lower and lower again. Hit the ball left to right. Hit the ball right to left," barked the maestro as Harrington curved, faded and punched a six-iron to squeals of delight and extended moments of silent bewilderment.

At that point, Daly, mullet-free, threw down his cigarette. "Here comes the big gun," whispered Seve menacingly.

Daly shuffled across and unsheathed his driver. It was a Dirty Harry moment. "This is a Magnum 45. This can blow a hole clean through . . ."

Daly said nothing, shook his hips and hit the ball to the up slope at the end of the practice area. "Thank you, I've enjoyed it," he roared, walking away, the crowd howling at the power and distance, the shoulder turn that would dislocate a normal back. Not so fast, thought Seve.

"Tell the people how you set up," he instructed.

"These guys," said Daly pointing to the clutch of Singh, Harrington and Seve, "These could be teachers. I'm just a country boy from Arkansas. I really don't know what I do. Rhythm is pretty important. Mine is just very fast. It's a look, a waggle, a look, a waggle, a look a waggle, boom."

"Can you imitate Monty?" asked Seve.

"No," said Daly disconsolately.

"Anyone?" asked Seve.

"No," said Daly shuffling like a child caught nicking sweets.

"Can you do Ian Woosnam?" asked Seve, intent on squeezing life out of the popular American.

"No," said Daly cheerily. "But hey, there's a guy who can drink even more than I can."

It was a day like that. Golf meets light entertainment followed by a match, which Harrington and Murphy won with a score of seven under to the US Tour pair's four under in a fourball better-ball format. Even that was peripheral to the day.

The people got what they came for, Singh and Murphy driving 400 yards downwind to the apron of the 406-yard first hole, then just making the 270 yards into the wind to reach the dogleg of the 460-yard fifth.

"This course could host an Irish Open straight away. It is an enjoyable course and it is in great condition," said Harrington.

"It's a blast to be here," said Daly. It was.