Harrington briefs Irish team

Amateur scene: World Championship and news round-up Every two years they gather, all with the one aim - to be world champions. Except that this year, things are different. Instead of the old "four unions" team representing Britain and Ireland, the four have gone it alone this time.

So it is that next Thursday, in Malaysia, Ireland's three-man team will become the first from this country to compete as a sole entity in the men's world amateur championship for the Eisenhower Trophy.

Some wonder why it took so long to break free from the old constraints, especially given the way that Irish players appeared to get many a raw deal in terms of team selection under the previous rather out-dated system.

The most clear-cut example of such bias was how Padraig Harrington - a three-time Walker Cup player - was repeatedly overlooked for Eisenhower Trophy duty.

Ironically, prior to their departure to the Far East last week, Harrington, now the world's number six ranked player, provided the Irish team with some constructive advice on how to compete in Malaysia.

There are two courses being used in Kuala Lumpur: The Palm and The Bunga Raya. The Palm is considered the tougher of the two, with water coming into play on six holes and very undulating and fast greens.

It was on the Palm course - affectionately known as The Cobra as it snakes its way through an old palm oil plantation and where cobra snakes and monkeys actually frequent the lay-out - that Harrington lost out in a play-off to Vijay Singh for the Malaysian Open.

"Padraig spent over three hours talking to the players," remarked Irish team captain Eddie Dunne, "and his advice was invaluable. His recall of the course was unbelievable. He was able to remember every foot and every yard of the course, and was able to tell them if the ball would bounce left or bounce right depending on what part of the fairway they found.

"Apart from advice on course management, he also gave some wonderful advice on diet and nutrition. Things like insisting that every time the caddie gives them a club to play a shot, that he also offers them a bottle of water too. It's a habit that they have got into.

"Padraig also put great emphasis on the team perspective, of the necessity to play simple shots if things are not going well at some juncture in a round."

Although four Irish players made the trip around the globe to Malaysia, only three - Colm Moriarty, Noel Fox and Justin Kehoe - will play in the championship.

Andrew McCormick, however, has remained on as the reserve. It was only after playing in the conditions - with temperatures hitting 100 degrees and humidity in the high 80s - that the three players to compete were determined.

"Everyone played really well in the round which was used to acclimatise to the conditions," insisted Dunne, "it is just that one player had to be left out. It was a hard decision to make, but Andy is still an important part of the team."

McCormick and Moriarty, winner of the GUI's Order of Merit this season, will be making the move into the professional ranks at the conclusion of the championship.

For Ireland - and, indeed, England, Scotland and Wales - this is a big week. Although the United States and Australia will be considered favourites, Ireland's captain Dunne insisted that the players have acclimatised well since their arrival in Malaysia.

"This is an historic occasion for Irish golf and the players know that they are making history by playing here . . . but we are not here just to make up the numbers. We want to go out and win," said Dunne.

Indeed, it is a tribute to the Irish golfing structures that players such as Graeme McDowell, Michael Hoey and Stephen Browne can be lost to the professional ranks inside the past year and for the country to still produce a formidable team that includes, in Kehoe, the current world universities champion.

In order to combat the heat, Dunne ordered special reflective umbrellas - "temperatures are up to 20 degrees cooler in their shade," he explained - because he is aware that the pace of play will be excruciatingly slow.

The championship - which was won for a record 11th time by the United States in Germany two years ago - is played over four strokeplay rounds with all three players counting.

"It is essential that each player remains focused on each and every shot. As Padraig explained, if they are anywhere near contention with nine holes to play, that is really 27 holes to play - and every single shot counts. Since we've been here, though, I have been very impressed with the players and how focused they are. Each one of them is striking the ball well and their fitness levels are very good. We're looking forward to a good championship . . . and if we get the bit of luck that every team needs, then who knows?"