McGinley aims for Open place

Colin Montgomerie and Paul McGinley will attempt to prove today that there is life after the World Cup in France. While Montgomerie returns to the European Tour from his trial by the hecklers in the US Open in San Francisco last week and McGinley faces trial by new irons, neither have more than a passing interest in the soccer scenario just down the road.

Ireland of course, didn't quite make it and Montgomerie's return to Europe after finishing tied 18th behind Lee Janzen, was spoiled totally by watching Scotland duck out of the football extravaganza in France on television on Tuesday night.

So both should have their full minds on the job of taking the £83,330 first prize this week - Montgomerie to move up to second place on the rankings in his challenge for a sixth European number one title and McGinley to clinch his place in the British Open at Birkdale - and to go one better at a course where he was runner-up after a play-off with Costantino Rocca in 1993.

McGinley knows Montgomerie is nearly always the man to beat. He can keep a watchful eye on the dangerman then for the first two rounds. And McGinley says he will revel in the greater atmosphere provided by what is sure to be the biggest gallery of the week watching him and Montgomerie.

Today, though, McGinley's biggest challenge, indeed what he terms `a big deal' comes from a revolutionary change of club.

Yesterday he explained the difference in the new weapons in his bag which he hopes will up his standard of play in a vital time in his career.

"It's my first real change of clubs in over four years and a big deal for me. The actual change of iron isn't a huge one but it's a major step because the updated King Cobra II has a much softer head.

"Although they have the same lofts, shafts, swing-weights, obviously changing the heads meant at least four weeks of testing, bending and gradually working them in to be set up like the old ones. The major difference comes with far better control. They give me a softer ball flight, more consistently.

Ready to go over a course he rates as "one of my favourites in all the world, one that gives you the best of mental challenges , shots over water, difficult pin positions; it's got the lot."

While McGinley hopes to enhance his position on the Open Championship order of merit which continues this week and rolls on to the end of the Loch Lomond event just before Birkdale, Philip Walton hopes to consolidate his position.

The former French Open champion currently lies third on the R and A's order of merit and he will want to stay there to avoid pre-qualifying for the Open. A £500,000 prize fund offers plenty of scope.

Bernhard Langer and defending champion Retief Goosen, with no jet-lag because they both missed the cut at the Olympic, are also the men to beat for five other Irishmen on duty this week - Des Smyth, Raymond Burns - hoping to make up for losing his chance at Slaley Hall of clinching next year's tour card - David Higgins, Francis Howley and Cameron Clark.

Card Of The Course

Hole Yards Par Hole Yards Par 1 415 4 10 377 4

2 202 3 11 191 3

3 530 5 12 437 4

4 437 4 13 410 4

5 404 4 14 552 5

6 377 4 15 421 4

7 443 4 16 175 3

8 197 3 17 470 4

9 563 5 18 514 5

Out 3568 36 In 3547 36

Total 7,115 yards, par 72