AmEx would do nicely for Mount Juliet

Mount Juliet, which staged the tournament in 2002, has emerged as the most likely venue to play host to the World Golf Championships - American Express championship next year. Philip Reid Golf Correspondent reports.

Although a number of countries in Europe have been fighting it out to attract the event, rated just one rung below that of a major, it is believed the Co Kilkenny course has held off all-comers.

Peter Adams, the World Golf Championships director with the European Tour, insisted the destination of the tournament was "still in the melting pot," but it is my understanding that the Jack Nicklaus-designed course will stage the event a fortnight after next year's Ryder Cup, which takes place in Detroit.

"There's an enthusiasm to go back to Ireland," admitted Adams, "but Ireland is one of a number of candidates and discussions are on-going. Things will probably come to light in a short time."

All four of this year's WGC events are being staged in the US - the AmEx will played at the Capitol City Club in Atlanta on October 2nd-5th - and there is a commitment next year to return to a more global schedule.

Despite intense competition for the right to stage the event, Ireland seems to have won out and, given the successful staging last year, Mount Juliet was the desired location in this country.

On winning last year, Tiger Woods was effusive in his praise. "This course is very finely conditioned, as good as you will find any course in America," he said, adding: "The Irish galleries were fantastic. They're knowledgeable, they understand the game. That's the most fun, when you can play in front of fans who appreciate what a good shot really is."

Mount Juliet was presented in superb condition for the championship. As part of its preparations, all 18 greens were reconstructed in a programme that started two years beforehand and resulted in smooth-as-silk Penn A4 creeping bentgrass surfaces - cut to a height of one-tenth of an inch - which gave a stimpmetre reading of 11 and a half.

In fact, the tournament at Mount Juliet was the most successful such tournament since the WGCs commenced. Over the four days, an attendance of 120,174 converged on the Thomastown venue and, in terms of showcasing Ireland as a golfing destination, the AmEx proved to be a powerful marketing tool. Last year's tournament was screened live in over 140 countries, including on ESPN and ABC in the US.

If the WGC tournaments don't - and, quite simply, can't - possess the sense of history the four majors have, the world golf championships nevertheless have a magnetic appeal. Of course, it might have something to do with the truckloads of prize money on offer (in excess of $5.5 million), or the fact that fields are limited to the elite of the elite, but they transcend international boundaries and have added a new dimension to tournament golf.

The proof of their appeal is that 49 of the top 50 players in the official world rankings gathered at Mount Juliet for last year's championship and, of the 65 players in the field, all of that season's major winners - Woods, Ernie Els and Rich Beem - were included.

These world championship titles, despite their youth, are as hard to win as majors. Only two players have won an AmEx: Tiger Woods in 1999 and again in 2002, and Mike Weir in 2000. The 2001 tournament in St Louis was cancelled because of the terrorist attacks in the US.