Many are surprised at plan to switch

Although the plan as it stands is to switch next year's Smurfit European Open back across the river Liffey to the newer Smurfit Course, so that the Palmer Course can be prepared for the 2006 Ryder Cup, there are those who don't think it to be a move in the best interest of Europe seeking an unprecedented third successive victory in the biennial match with the United States.

Both the Palmer and the Smurfit are genuine, world-class championship courses, but are as different as chalk and cheese.

"I think it would be a big mistake not to play next year's tournament on this course," remarked Padraig Harrington, while Europe's captain, Ian Woosnam, claimed to be unaware of the reasoning behind the strategy. "But I want to find out," he said. "A lot of guys would want to know that as captain I can assure them that I was giving them as much advantage as possible."

The Palmer course has been the traditional home of the European Open since it was first brought to the Co Kildare resort in 1995 - the exception being last year, when Retief Goosen won on the Smurfit - and it is the course that will play host to next year's Ryder Cup, which takes place from September 22nd to 24th.

If next year's European Open were again to be held on the Palmer, then that would leave a final preparation period of less than three months between the tournament and the Ryder Cup. Would that be sufficient time?

"Funnily enough," remarked Jamie Birkmyre, the championship director, "it's not the actual golf tournament itself that's the problem, it's actually the areas outside the ropes. If you have a very wet week, it could be difficult to get the grass back again. I'm not saying there won't be a change in plan and I can see the positives for having the tournament on this course. Sure I can."

Birkmyre confirmed the issue had been raised in recent days. "In fact, Dr Michael Smurfit told me he was under pressure from a lot of people to play it here (on the Palmer Course). It's a matter for Ryder Cup Ltd. If they think it can be done, anything is possible," he said.

One of the most surprised people to learn the tournament would be switching back across the Liffey to the Smurfit was the US captain Tom Lehman. "It would surprise me greatly if the European Tour didn't want to get as many competitive rounds as possible over the Ryder Cup course. I can't believe they would not want to play the European Open (next year) on that course, especially as it will be near the finished stages for the Ryder Cup at that time. They should be rethinking that decision. If they do, then I will bring a bunch of my guys as well."

In fact, if it is humanly possible from an agronomy and infrastructure standpoint to accommodate the tournament so close to the Ryder Cup, then that Lehman carrot of bringing potential US team members to play in next year's European Open could yet influence a change in plans.

Harrington, for one, was of the opinion that "three months is ample time to get a golf course ready" for a tournament. He added: "I just think it would be advantageous for everybody that we play the Ryder Cup course. It has happened before at the Benson and Hedges International at the Belfry. Maybe they'll argue that was May and gave them more time to get the course ready

"But they'd get a much better field. The European players in the US would all travel over and I'd say you'd get some Americans. Why wouldn't the Americans come for three weeks? They'd have a ball," said Harrington, a three-time Ryder Cup player.

Graeme McDowell just missed out on a place on Europe's team for the win in Detroit last September, but has earmarked a spot on the 2006 team as one of his goals. "It makes sense to have the team playing competitively at the match course closer to the event," he said.

"I know they don't want the course beaten up before the Ryder Cup . . . still, this is by far the better track. It's fabulous, a real tournament course."

Indeed, it has been obvious from the first two rounds this week that the finishing stretch - the 16th and 17th holes for their degree of difficulty and the 18th for its potential to produce an eagle as easily as a triple or quadruple bogey - of the Palmer Course will make for terrific drama come the Ryder Cup.