Home countries go separate ways

Sadly, for the last time that a Britain and Ireland team will compete as one unit in the Eisenhower Trophy, there will be no Irish representative. But then, why should we be surprised? For years, there has been an argument that Irish players have got a raw deal in terms of selection on the four-man team.

The irony is, that when Britain and Ireland defend the world amateur team championship trophy in Berlin on August 31st-September 3rd, a simultaneous meeting of officials from the various national governing bodies is expected to rubberstamp a move that will see Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales compete as separate teams in future championships.

Indeed, the Golfing Union of Ireland - under the presidency of Eamon Curran back in 1995 - was the instigator of a move by the four "home" unions to go-it-alone in the championship. This decision was put in abeyance when the necessary support from the other countries was slow in coming about and, then, when the Britain and Ireland team (including Paddy Gribben) won the trophy in Chile two years ago, there was a request from the R & A that the team be kept intact for the defence in Berlin. This was agreed by the respective unions.

However, the selection of English pair Luke Donald and Paul Casey along with Scotland's Steven O'Hara and Welsh international Jamie Donaldson means that Ireland have no player participating in what is ultimately the most important amateur event in world golf.

A decision on the venue for 2002 will be made in Berlin, but it will go to either Australia or New Zealand under a rota system that operates. Now that Ireland - under the GUI - has finally made the decision to compete as a separate entity in future championships, starting in 2002, it opens up an exciting new possibility for Irish golf in that the country now has it in its own hands to bid for the championship when it is next staged in Europe in 2006. Given the successful stagings of Walker Cup (Portmarnock 1991) and Curtis Cup (Killarney 1996), it remains the only major amateur event that has not yet been staged in this country. And with the Ryder Cup due to be held at The K Club in 2005, what better way to maintain the impetus than to start a campaign to take the Eisenhower Trophy here the following year?