HOME INTERNATIONALS: A new-look Ireland team with a balance of experience and youth goes into action in the men's amateur Home International championship over the Royal St David's links at Harlech, Wales, today with considerable optimism.
"We have an excellent team with a mixture of skill and experience and the determination to do well. We are very optimistic," said Irish captain Eddie Dunne, who is in his third and last year as skipper.
There are five new caps in the Irish side: Gareth Maybin, Darren Crowe, Padraig Dooley, John McGinn and Sean McTernan.
They open their challenge for a first title since 1992 against Scotland today. Dunne has left Greenore's McGinn on the sidelines in this morning's foursomes, while Dooley is omitted from the afternoon singles.
England, who are looking for their ninth victory in 10 years, have what Peter McEvoy describes as the strongest side through the order he can remember. They start against a new-look Wales team today.
ORDER OF PLAY - Ireland v Scotland (Ireland names first) Foursomes: C Moriarty and J Kehoe v S Carmichael and J Doherty; N Fox and A McCormick v G Gordon and A McArthur; S Paul and P Dooley v J King and S Jamieson; D Crowe and G Maybin v D Inglis and J McLeary; K Kearney and S McTernan v S Wilson and E Ramsay. Singles: J McGinn v McArthur; Moriarty v Gordon; Kehoe v C Watson; Fox v Doherty; Maybin v Carmichael; Crowe v Jamieson; McCormick v Ramsay; McTernan v McLeary; Kearney v Inglis; Paul v Wilson.
DEATH: Ken Rose, father of rising English star Justin and the driving force behind his son's career, has died of cancer, it was announced yesterday. Rose senior had been suffering from the disease for some time.
It was he who introduced Justin to golf and he was his son's coach for many years.
Justin Rose turned professional as a 17-year-old after an astonishing joint fourth finish as an amateur at the British Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in 1998.
But he struggled early on in the professional ranks, missing a succession of cuts.
However, Ken Rose, born in Johannesburg, lived to see his son, now 22, win four times this year, including once in his father's home town where Justin claimed the Dunhill Championship in January.
WORLD MATCHPLAY: British Open champion Ernie Els of South Africa heads the list of entrants for the World Matchplay Championships at Wentworth next month.
The South African, defending champion Ian Woosnam, Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia, Nick Faldo and Justin Rose are all included in a strong field. Rose will make his debut.
Colin Montgomerie, Retief Goosen and Vijay Singh are also included in the 12-man line-up.
RYDER CUP: European captain Sam Torrance is confident Jesper Parnevik will be ready for this month's Ryder Cup at The Belfry, scotching rumours that the out-of-form Swede was considering standing down from the 12-man team.
Parnevik (37), a veteran of the 1997 and 1999 Ryder Cups, has missed seven cuts on the US Tour this season while producing just two top-10 finishes in 23 starts.
"Jesper is a battle-hardened Ryder Cup player with a great deal to offer," Torrance said on his official website. "He has told me he will be on the first tee ready to give everything for the European cause.
"He and Sergio Garcia proved a formidable duo in Brookline three years ago and they are keen to renew that partnership at The Belfry."
Parnevik and Spaniard Garcia, who have both switched their playing schedules from Europe to the US Tour, were Torrance's two wildcard picks.
Should either of them be unavailable to play at The Belfry, the Scot said he would bring in Justin Rose as the replacement.
