Irish raise their sights in answer to Seve's call

A QUICK trip to his British coach Howard Bennett brought a rapid solution to Padraig Harrington's recent problems and an early bonus from the Volvo German Open in Stuttgart yesterday.

Harrington teamed with his World Cup partner Darren Clarke to win the £2,000 per man top prize in the Canon Shoot Out at the Nippenburg Club where the £700,000 tournament begins today without European number one Colin Montgomerie, who has withdrawn because of the illness of his father.

Ireland's golfer of the year to date he won the Spanish Open after only eight weeks of his debut season - has failed in four of his last six events. After the most recent mishap in the Czech Republic last week, Harrington sped back to London and up to Nottingham to consult Bennett, the man who best knows his swing, and who has guided the Stackstown professional since he became coach to the Golfing Union of Ireland.

"It took Howard only a minute to spot the problem," said Padraig. I was swinging too flat, the same as at the Qualifying School last year, with all the problems that brings. I am now concentrating on keeping my hands higher."

Along with Clarke, who has switched this week to a new Odyssey face balanced putter, and Austrian Open champion Paul McGinley, he will also be raising his sights after a declaration from Ryder Cup captain Seve Ballesteros designed as much to encourage emerging players as remind established ones of their responsibilities to the European team.

The Spaniard has announced that he wants all Europe's top players. Nick Faldo included, to make a big effort to play their way into the team for the match at Valderrama in September 1997, qualification for which starts next week. "They need to make the effort, otherwise if I see someone else around they may not get picked," he said. "Some players may think that it does not matter if they qualify or not and that they will be picked in any case. They might be in for a shock.'

He singled out Faldo as being one of the players he wanted to be among the automatic top 10 so that he has more freedom with his two personal choices. Faldo was a captain's choice in 1985, 1991 and again last year. "Nick should play in a bunch of tournaments in Europe that will help him qualify," he added. "We are not in the same situation as we were 15 years ago. There are a lot of young players coming through. "I don't want a team full of big names. I want the form players. You don't win matches with names, only games."

With Seve promising no favours to the senior establishment in what he termed "a very clear message", the way is open for youthful promise to assert itself.

Harrington has already exceeded his expectations. "At the start of the year it was just to make my card," he says. "Then my aim went up to make the World Cup and Alfred Dunhill Cup teams. Now I have done that I will have to set new goals."

Clarke, who was a strong contender for the 1995 Ryder Cup team, said yesterday: "I am ready for a year of qualifying now. It has to be my target from now on.

"Padraig and Paul's success has been great for Irish golf, and the team for the Dunhill Cup represents the new generation. I think we will do well, because a lot of the other teams will underestimate us."

McGinley says the Austrian victory has lifted a lot of pressure off him. "I always felt it would be just a matter of time, and after the Open when I led and then played with the eventual winner was the final stepping stone to that first win."

McGinley plays his first two rounds in the company of Ian Woosnam who has replaced the absent Montgomerie as favourite. If the Welshman collects a fourth win of the season, or is runner up, he will leapfrog over Montgomerie to the head of the Volvo ranking.

Eamonn Darcy and Des Smyth return to the circuit, as does Ronan Rafferty, while David Higgins resumes his attempt to secure his Tour card for next season. Raymond Burns has quickly recovered from the back twinges that he blamed for his 82 in the first round of last week's Czech Open, and Francis Howley is again looking for that outstanding performance that will keep him among Europe's elite. The first prize is £116,000.