McDowell spoiled for choice in card quest

In the dog-eat-dog world of professional golf, one thing is almost as difficult as winning a tournament - and that is for a fledgling pro to get an invitation to play in the first place.

For Graeme McDowell, though, the problem is one of excess: rather than being in the traditional rookie position of having to scavenge for one of those rare invitations, he must instead decide which one to take up.

Although McDowell intends to play in this week's Scandinavian Masters in Stockholm, on the main tour, he is faced with a rather different problem next week. The former Walker Cup player has invitations to play on both the main tour, in the Wales Open, and also on the Challenge Tour, in the Russian Open.

Normally, there would be no decision to make; the main circuit would win out 999 times out of a thousand. But McDowell's case is different, in that the secondary tour possibly represents a better route to obtaining a full tour card.

In his appearances on the Challenge Tour in the past two weeks, McDowell has finished second and tied-17th, and literally come from nowhere to be placed 45th in the money list.

The attraction for the Portrush man is that the top-15 players in the Challenge Tour's order of merit get a full card for next season's European Tour - and that is the carrot that has him in two minds about what to do.

If McDowell wins enough money in his Challenge Tour outings, then he would be spared a visit to the end-of-season qualifying schools in Spain.

"It could well be that Graeme will decide to go to play in Russia, because realistically the Challenge Tour represents the easier way to get his card," admitted his manager, Chubby Chandler, of ISM.

This route holds further appeal in that the following week's North West of Ireland Open is a dual badge tournament, with money counting to both the main tour and the Challenge Tour, and McDowell is invited to play at Ballyliffin.

McDowell is not the only Irish player who has a chance to emerge from the Challenge Tour with a card for 2003. Peter Lawrie has risen to 10th in the moneylist, and now has his destiny in his own hands, while Gary Murphy is 38th in the list. Murphy will be playing in the Finnish Open this week.

While Colin Montgomerie, after initially suggesting he would not defend his title, has confirmed he will play in the Scandinavian Masters, the Irish representation is a small one. McDowell will be joined in Stockholm by Ronan Rafferty and David Higgins.

Padraig Harrington's third place finish in the Dutch Open has confirmed his ranking at number eight in the world. After a spell which has seen him secure top-10 places in his last five tournaments, including two majors, the Dubliner is taking a two-week break and won't reappear on the circuit again until the US PGA Championship in Hazeltine, Minnesota, on August 15th-18th.

Indeed, it is interesting to compare Harrington's season to date with his progress last year. The most obvious comparison is that, despite his consistency, he has yet to win a tournament. Last season, it will be remembered, he had to wait until the season-ending Volvo Masters to claim a victory.

At this stage last season, Harrington had seven top-10 finishes while, so far this year, he has had eight: BellSouth Classic (tied-8th), US Masters (tied-5th), Benson and Hedges (tied-3rd), US Open (tied-8th), Irish Open (tied-6th), European Open (tied-2nd), British Open (tied-5th) and Dutch Open (tied-3rd). The win, however, has proved elusive.

Darren Clarke, who at least has the satisfaction of one win this season, in the English Open, did not play in Holland and is also giving the Scandinavian Masters a miss. Clarke, who is now ranked 17th in the world, resumes competitive play at next week's Wales Open and then takes in three tournaments in North America: the US PGA, the NEC Invitational and the Air Canada Championship.

Paul McGinley's next outing will be the defence of his Wales Open title at Celtic Manor.

For Michael Hoey, meanwhile, this week provides an opportunity to compete on the US Tour in the $4.5 million International tournament at Castle Rock, Colorado. In his last outing in the US, at the Memorial, where he received a special invitation from Jack Nicklaus, Hoey missed the cut by one shot.

IRISH POSITIONS ON EUROPEAN CHALLENGE TOUR: 10th, P Lawrie €33,429; 38th, G Murphy €16,337; 45th, G McDowell €14,316; 50th, D McGrane €12,872.