Druids Glen to remain as host for another year

DRUIDS GLEN is to stage the Murphy's Irish Open in 1998, for a third successive year. "Having considered other options, we're selecting the best one we have," said Marien Kakebeeke, managing director of the sponsoring company yesterday.

The decision came as a surprise to Nick Faldo, three times winner of the title. "My information was that they were going to move it around," said the Englishman, who was on a handsome appearance fee from the sponsors.

Faldo went on: "I love the tournament and the Irish people, but they need to sort out a few things here, particularly the road crossing the first fairway. You waste 20 minutes in the morning just trying to get to the practice ground."

Ian Woosnam, on the other hand, welcomed the move. "Generally, the course has matured significantly, particularly with the newly-planted bushes," he said. "The bunkering, which I was critical of last year, has also been improved." But the Welshman added: "I feel they need to get the greens right.

Effectively, the Co Wicklow venue is to benefit from the same arrangement that brought the country's premier golf event to Mount Juliet in 1993, 1994 and 1995. And, as in that case, the unavailability of another suitable venue has been the deciding factor.

I understand that the original plan was to stage the 1998 event at Adare Manor. The move has now been put off for a year, however, because the course is not sufficiently advanced for such a major undertaking.

This was decided on the basis of recent visits by European Tour officials to the Co Limerick venue. It seems that the revised draining of some troublesome fairways at Adare Manor has yet to bring them to the desired standard. And the completion of a clubhouse would also be a requirement.

Interestingly, a similar problem at The K Club was responsible for the then Carrolls Irish Open going from Killarney to Mount Juliet instead of Sfraffan. And the option of a change to The K Club in 1995 was removed by the launching of the Smurfit European Open there.

As it happened, Portmarnock was earmarked for last year's championship, but the club decided to withdraw because of difficulties with the organisers. All of which points to the need for a new approach - the establishment of a rota of courses on similar lines to the British Open.

This would put an end to the almost perennial speculation about championship venues. Meanwhile, it can be taken that the future of the Irish Open will be dominated by wealthy, proprietary clubs, which have most to gain from such a venture, in terms of publicity at home and abroad.