Irish Open part of Faldo plan

Nick Faldo is looking to the Murphy's Irish Open as part of a determined attempt at a record-extending 12th successive Ryder Cup appearance in September. But there will be no competitive return to Ireland this year for Payne Stewart.

A one-over-par aggregate of 285 in the MCI Classic at Harbour Town last Sunday was Faldo's best tournament performance of the year so far. And he will be seeking to continue the rehabilitation process in the Spanish Open in Barcelona, starting on Thursday.

Perhaps it will mark the sort of change in his fortunes that occurred in 1987, when victory in the Spanish Open at Las Brisas was followed a few months later by a British Open triumph at Muirfield. A decidedly bleak picture has certainly been painted of his current situation by leading US magazine Sports Illustrated in an article neither." neither".

After Faldo had missed a third successive US Masters cut last week, European captain Mark James warned he would "need to pull up his socks" if he were to make the line-up for Brookline. By way of response, Faldo shot a bestof-the-year 67 at Harbour Town on Saturday, but slipped back to a 75 in the final round.

"I will be returning to Europe after the US Open at Pinehurst to begin a build-up for Carnoustie," said Faldo. "In that respect, I'm looking at the Irish Open and Loch Lomond, but nothing is definite yet."

Then, referring to a wretched nine at the par-four eighth on Sunday, when he blocked two drives out of bounds, he added: "There has been a lot of good work this weekend and it was a pity to have spoiled it through a few silly shots. But I've got to keep at it.

"I need some fat cheques to earn Ryder Cup points but I need to be careful. It's been a hard grind. Right now, I feel as if I've been out here three years, rather than a few months."

Faldo, who won a record three successive Irish Open titles from 1991 to 1993, was tied 27th behind David Carter last year. Indeed that performance was typical of his current torment in that a third round of 67 was followed by a closing 74.

Meanwhile, Stewart will not be back at the Smurfit European Open on the August holiday weekend, having missed the cut at The K Club last year. But he is returning to Ireland in July as part of his preparation for the British Open at Carnoustie.