Date change for European unlikely to please all

Ireland is to have leading, back-to-back tournaments next July, valued at a combined £2.75 million. But the refixing of the Smurfit European Open from the August Bank Holiday weekend to July 6th to 9th is unlikely to be welcomed by officials of the Murphy's Irish Open.

Murphy's had no comment to make on the situation yesterday, but it is understood the new arrangement is at variance with an agreement Murphy's have with the European Tour. It stipulated that the Irish Open would not have to contend with a conflicting event in Ireland within a month of their established dates.

As it happens, the change for the European Open becomes possible next year, due to the fact that the British Open moves back a week for the millennium staging at St Andrews. So, starting on June 29th to July 2nd, the sequence of events will be: Irish Open, European Open, Loch Lomond Invitational, British Open.

For the last eight years, since they took over the old Monte Carlo Open date, the Irish Open have had an annual slot two weeks prior to the British Open. That is now changing. And while creating a festival atmosphere for tournament golf in this country, the back-to-back fixtures will put considerable financial pressure on the average fan.

Meanwhile, a decision is due later this month on next year's staging of the Irish Open, which is expected to be held at Ballybunion.