Incentive of Walker Cup places to drive players' performances

Hotel rooms booked for three, British-based Walker Cup selectors in Rosses Point this weekend have been cancelled. But this should not be interpreted as a lack of interest in the Golfsure-sponsored Irish Close Championship, which starts this morning with the first round of strokeplay qualifying on the Co Sligo links.

While Ireland's representative, Rupert de Lacy Staunton, will be present, Peter Benka, Tony Disley and skipper, Peter McEvoy will not. Benka and Disley are expected to turn their attention to the Scottish Strokeplay Championship which takes place at Nairn this weekend, but McEvoy is in Spain on business.

Their absence from Rosses Point seemed ominous, especially when taken with Michael Hoey's splendid victory in the British Amateur Championship at Prestwick last Saturday. If one were to view Graeme McDowell and Hoey as certainties now in the Walker Cup team to defend the trophy at Sea Island, Georgia, in August, does this mean Ireland's representation is complete?

"I think it's possible, absolutely, for Ireland to have three players in the team," said McEvoy yesterday. "Obviously I cannot comment about individuals, but it would be wrong to assume that we no longer have any interest in your Close Championship."

"My view on team selection is that you shouldn't pick players simply to reward them. You should pick players whom you believe can win points for you. These two criteria are not always complementary."

"From my perspective, there are still two, possibly three vacancies in the team which will not be filled until after the European Team Championship in Sweden next month [July 3rd to 7th]. In the meantime, we will be studying the results of the Irish Close, along with the Scottish Strokeplay and next week's Welsh strokeplay."

All of which means that Noel Fox still has everything to play for when he sets off this afternoon in strokeplay qualifying with Martin McTernan from the host club and Justin Kehoe of UCD/Birr. Indeed Michael McDermott could also sway the R and A selectors with a repeat of his winning performance in the West of Ireland Championship at the same venue last Easter, when he beat no less a figure than Hoey in the final.

The last six Close champions at Co Sligo were: 1961 David Sheahan; 1965 Joe Carr; 1969 Vincent Nevin; 1973 Robert Pollin; 1981 Declan Branigan and 1989 Paul McGinley.

As it happens, 52-year-old Branigan is among four winners of the title in action this weekend, including the holder, McDowell, who gained a crushing 7 and 6 victory over Andrew McCormick in the final at Royal Portrush last year. Other competing former champions are Eddie Power (1987 and 1993) and Garth McGimpsey (1988).

After the rigours of Prestwick, Hoey, who led the qualifiers at Royal Portrush, decided to withdraw from the Close which, incidentally, marks the first appearance by the Alabamabased McDowell in a home championship so far this year. But the remaining members of Ireland's European Championship line-up will be present - Stephen Browne, Fox, McDermott and Timmy Rice.

After strokeplay qualifying today and tomorrow, the leading 36 qualifiers will go through to the matchplay stage, culminating in the semi-finals and final next Wednesday.