FRANCIS HOWLEY yesterday had the pleasant task of altering his travel arrangements when he was handed a late "wild card" into the Murphy's Irish Open a) Druids Glen.

In a case of "better late than never," the 28-year-old Sligomar hastily, but happily, cancelled hit plans to play in the Pounds 50,000 Opec des Volcans in France on the European Challenge Tour this week and instead prepared to join Europe's big guns in an event which carries over 15 times greater prizemoney.

Howley, who lost his tour card last season, and Spain's Manuel Pinero were confirmed yesterday as the recipients of the last available sponsor's invitations. John McHenry, Eoghan O'Connell, Graham Spring and Gary Murphy bad already received "wild card"

Campbell and Michael Long (New Zealand), Italy's Alberto Binaghi and Spain's Igor Izulain. Howley's addition to the field brings to 25 the number of Irish players competing.

Meanwhile, with just three Irishmen - Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington - already exempt for the British Open at Royal Troon on July 17th-20th, the Irish Open and next week's Loch Lomond World Invitational represent the last opportunities for a number of players to avoid qualifying. The R and A has provided exemption for the top five players, and ties (among players not already exempt) who finish in the top 20 of a cumulative moneylist from the Volvo PGA up to the Loch Lomond event.

So, the next two weekends have added significance for Philip Walton, Des Smyth, Raymond Burns, Ronan Rafferty, Eamonn Darcy and David Higgins, the non-exempt Irish players who are playing in these last two counting tournaments.

The women professionals on the WPG American Express Tour have no such pressures for the next three weeks which are free on the European circuit. Instead, Alison Nicholas headed off for the US Tour from the Guardian Irish Women's Open at Luttrellstown Castle singing the course's praises. "An excellent course, the sort of venue which we need on the European Tour," she said.

And winner Patricia Meunier Lebouc agreed: "I couldn't praise the place enough. And it was especially satisfying to play in front of people who know and appreciate their golf."

Yes, Luttrellstown Castle was a superb venue. However, the stark fact of the matter is that not enough people turned up to support the event. And, with serious question marks over Guardian's continued sponsorship of the tournament, apart from the possible need of securing a new sponsor, a number of other questions need to be addressed if the event is to take place again next year.

The date - a week before the men's Irish Open - is unsatisfactory. Although the clash with the European Team Championships at Portmarnock was a bad one, it won't happen again. However, it is important that an acceptable date be found in the schedule, possibly late in May.

Also, if the tournament is to survive, it is imperative that a "big name" player - someone like Annika Sorenstam or Catrin Nilsmark - be brought in.