Darcy to join Irish contingent in Spain

JUST A day or so after youth had its fling at the Cannes Open, some of Ireland's "old hands" have decided to rejoin the European Tour circus this week for the Turespana Masters in Valencia.

One of them, Eamonn Darcy, is hopeful that a hint from Tom Craddock will provide some druid like inspiration.

Darcy, the touring professional out of Druids Glen, which hosts this year's Murphy's Irish Open, has been particularly critical of hiss short game on the circuit this season, which might explain why he, currently languishes in 80th place in the Order of Merit.

"I've been struggling with my chipping and putting," conceded Darcy, who flies out to Spain today to join forces with a strong Irish contingent that currently numbers 11 players for the Valencia field. Indeed, with David Higgins as fifth reserve, the Irish representation could be augmented even further, although the Waterville man must await some late withdrawals.

An impromptu bunker lesson in recent days from former amateur star Craddock, a co designer of the Druids Glen course, could provide an answer to Darcy's woes. "It is hard to put your finger on what is wrong sometimes; they are just little things. Hopefully, the lesson with Tom might help a few things slot back into place," said Darcy.

The Delany man has also discarded any further experimentation with the broom handle putter. "The greens at the Portuguese Open finished that idea for me," he said. He will revert to the so called Langer method this week in an attempt to curb his putting ills.

Darcy, in fact, has enjoyed fours weeks away from the circuit, but he intends to pack in a considerable amount of tournament golf from now on. "This is the start of the big stuff, as far as I am concerned," he said, his plans including Spain this week, then the Smurfit Irish PGA in the Slieve Russell, with the upcoming Benson and Hedges International and Volvo PGA also pencilled into his diary.

While Darcy has been away from tournament play some of Europe's "young lions" have been making a major impression on the Tour, something which doesn't surprise Darcy in the least. "There are a lot of really good young players around now, and it is great to see Padraig Harrington getting his foot in the door so quickly," said Darcy.

"I have been really impressed by his short game and also his temperament and, while some people might think he let things slip at Cannes over the weekend, I personally feel it could be a blessing in disguise for him; it will toughen him up and, sometimes, if you get too much too soon, it can backfire on you," he added.

Harrington, incidentally, is in the field again this week and, standing in 61st place in the current Order of Merit, is also in line to jump up the qualifying school re ranking list (after the Italian Open), which will get him into most of the summer events.

However, the 24 year old former Walker Cup star - who has made the cut in all six tournaments he has played in so far this season - will be anxious to improve considerably on his weekend form.

Indeed, it is interesting to cast a cold eye over his figures in the tournaments so far this season. Leaving out the Catalan Open which was reduced to 36 holes, Harrington has played in five other events: the FNB Players' Championship in South Africa the Moroccan Open, the Portuguese Open, the Madeira Island Open and the Cannes Open.

Taking the opening two rounds in each of those five tournaments, the Dubliner has been a cumulative 12 under par (taking 704 shots), but for the final two rounds over the weekends - on Saturdays and Sundays he has been 14 over par (30 shots).

This stark statistic, perhaps, emphasises Harrington's need to carry through the form of the opening two rounds into the latter stages of the tournament, a fact exemplified in Cannes, and, in fairness, it is, something Harrington himself has, acknowledged. Still, his sheer consistency in making all six cuts in his" short professional career is testimony to his huge potential.

Although no Irish player has managed to win on the European Tour so far this season - the honours so far being shared by three Scots, two Swedes, a double winning Welshman, a German, an Australian, a Zimbabwean and a South African - there will be a strong invasion force from these shores in Spain. Darcy and Harrington are joined by Philip Walton, Paul McGinley, David Feherty, Ronan Rafferty, Darren Clarke, Des Smyth, Christy O'Connor Jnr, Raymond Burns and John McHenry.

Meanwhile, the fourth annual Murphys Dunmore East Waterford Golf Classic takes place from April 29th to May 2nd, with a record entry of 560 contesting the event over the four courses of Waterford, Tramore, Faithlegg and Waterford Castle.

. Scottish rookie Raymond Russell, who won the Air France Cannes Open on Sunday, has entered the Slaley Hall Northumberland Challenge - a new event on the European Tour - from June 13th-16th.

. Britain's Laura Davies carded a disappointing final round of 79 to finish well down the field on a 220 total at the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship in Stockbridge, Georgia. American Barb Mucha won by two shots on 208.