New stars plan days on `the Big Tour'

Ireland's latest golfing heroes, Richard Coughlan and Keith Nolan, will be playing together on the USPGA Tour next season. Coughlan, who gained the unique achievement of qualifying for both the European and American tours at the first attempt, made this clear from Florida yesterday. "I always had a preference to play over here," he said, in the wake of their USPGA Tour School success at the Greenleaf Resort. "With my entire golfing future at stake, however, I felt I couldn't pass up the chance of going for a European card, even if it was only as a back-up."

Nolan, on the other hand, gambled on throwing everything into the American challenge. "People might have thought it a bit cocky, but that's the way I saw it," he said. "I wanted to direct all my energies towards one objective."

Against that background, it was hardly surprising that he should add: "It is amazing what Richie has done. I don't think people back home realise just how difficult it is to gain a card on one tour, let alone both."

Coughlan's achievement was fully appreciated by Philip Walton, himself a product of the US college system, having spent two years at Oklahoma State. "Both these guys deserve enormous credit, but what Coughlan has done is really special," said Walton. "I couldn't begin to describe how tough it is."

From an Irish standpoint, the achievement of these former amateur international foursomes partners ranks alongside the recent World Cup triumph by Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington, albeit at a different level. And it has completed a stunning year for the country's tournament professionals, both established and aspiring.

Coughlan had the higher finish, tied in ninth position as against Nolan's share of 20th place. But the Bray player was actually in third place overall when he stood at four-under-par for Monday's round with five holes to play. "I reckon I got a serious attack of the jitters," he admitted.

He bogeyed the 14th and 15th, and double-bogeyed the short 16th where he hooked a four-iron tee-shot out of bounds. "I began to sweat a bit at that stage, but I got the job done. I got my pars at the last two holes for a round of 72."

All the while, he had the boost of Irish support far from home. "Four guys from Northern Ireland - from the Hollywood, Clandeboye and Cairndhu clubs - were over here on holiday and they travelled down to cheer me on," Nolan explained. "It meant a great deal to me."

He has yet to decide whether he will be home for Christmas, but the indications are that he will remain in the US for the time being. "I hope to get home in three or four weeks, though I'm supposed to play in the Panama Open in January," he said. "In the meantime, I will be based in Knoxville, about a two-hour drive from East Tennessee (where he attended university)."

Nolan, who won the Irish Youths title in 1992 and the Irish Amateur Open Strokeplay title last June, signed with the International Management Group when he turned professional at the end of August. "My target is not to have to go back to the tour school," he said simply.

"Richie and I will probably room together at various tournaments. It seems likely we will start off in the Bob Hope Classic in January and then go on to the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. That should suit us, particularly if the wind blows."

Coughlan, who is attached to the London agency Stellar Promotions, was more precise about his targets for next season. From a base in Clemson, South Carolina, he hopes to play about 25 tournaments in the US. "My aim is to make prize money of $200,000," he said. "That should secure my card. I have no immediate plans to play in Europe."

In the meantime, he will be home in Birr, Co Offaly, for Christmas. "I'm heading back there next week and I hope to have a three or four week break before returning here to start my new career," he said.

"Last Monday was the most nerve-racking five hours of my life. I was awake at 4.30 a.m., in bits. I had never been so nervous, which made me realise how badly I wanted to succeed. And I got the lift I needed at the opening hole where I came out of a greenside bunker to 12 feet and sank the putt for a par. That set me up for the day, particularly after my two playing partners had made bogey."

In the final school in Europe and the US, Coughlan played a total of 10 rounds in which his highest score was 73. They were: Europe - 71, 73, 71, 72; US - 73, 66, 70, 70, 71, 69. Even more impressive is that for the 24 rounds he played in the various qualifying stages on both sides of the Atlantic, he was 39-under-par.

"Looking back, it's funny to think that I missed out on my first attempt in Europe at East Sussex," he mused. "There's got to be a moral there for players who might lose heart. If you want something badly enough, you've got to go for it with all the determination you can find."

He concluded: "The Walker Cup matches at Quaker Ridge probably gave me more confidence than anything else. That may seem strange, since I won only half a point. But I was honoured to be picked for Britain and Ireland and I felt I played well, even in the matches I lost."

Nolan also treasures his amateur achievements. "Sure, it's been great getting my tour card. But the most important things I've done in golf so far have been winning the Irish youths and strokeplay titles."