Nicholas nears her best in time to defend title

THE foreign players are starting to wonder if the sun ever shines on this isle. A third different location in four years it may well be, but one common factor - poor weather has added to the obstacles faced by the top performers on the WPG European Tour on each visit, and this year promises to be no exception.

Luttrellstown Castle Golf and Country Club, on the western outskirts of Dublin, is the newest course to play host to the Guardian Irish Women's Open, which starts today, and defending champion Alison Nicholas is not alone in predicting it will pose a mighty challenge.

Indeed, Nicholas, who these days is sharing her time between the money-laden US Tour and the European circuit, anticipates a mark of around five under par could be good enough to retain a title she won at Citywest last year. "I'll tell you one thing," she said, "there won't be many players under par."

Given the quality, of the field (there are five Solheim Cup players competing: Nicholas, Marie-Laure de Lorenzi, Dale Reid, Joanne Morley and Lora Fairclough), Nicholas's remark could be seen as a back-handed compliment to Luttrellstown. Recent heavy rainfall has ensured the course will play every one of its 6,179 yards, but, as if to add spite, the greens staff have managed to get the greens into quite splendid condition and they will play close to 10 on the Stimpmeter.

"The course will be a good test, said Nicholas, the 4 to 1 favourite with the bookmakers. "The greens are a little bit firm, but excellent. I'm finally finding some form, so I am looking forward to defending my championship."

Nicholas, in fact, showed a belated return to form by finishing runner-up to Kiromi Kabayishi, of Japan, in a play-off for the Evian Masters in France last weekend.

An explanation for her rather disappointing form prior to her French excursion centred around swing changes she had undertaken with her coach Lawrence Farmer. "I've been working hard, but it is sometimes difficult to take it from the practice ground to the course. It was a frustrating period for me, but thankfully last week it all clicked," she explained.

What changes has she undertaken? "Well, I am more disciplined now in areas like, my tempo and set-up. I don't hit as many practice shots., Instead,, I try to hit quality shots, said Nicholas, who has given her normal caddie a week off (to work in the US, actually) so that she can again have

Neil Carter, who caddied for her in Citywest last year, on her bag.

Nicholas, currently second in the Order of Merit, won't have things all her own way, although her exceptional short game should stand her in good stead around this parkland course which is maturing nicely. French star de Lorenzi, who is the current leader of the American Express Tour moneylist, Karen Lunn, who is third. and fourth-placed Morley are all in the field and will spearhead a strong challenge.

"This is a good field." she acknowledged, "just what I want before returning to play in Ohio next week and the US Open the following week."

The list of potential winners, however, was reduced yesterday when three players, for contrasting reasons, were forced to withdraw from the tournament. Tina Fischer, who had undertaken the journey to Dublin, was advised on arrival not to play by the physiotherapist due to an injured shoulder, while Lisa Hed (Sweden) and Marie Therese Pistolet-Boselli (France) encountered travel difficulties and contacted the tournament office to withdraw.

It means the field has been reduced to 123 players, which includes 10 Irish players. Maureen Madill, Aideen Rogers, Tracy Eakin and Lynn McCool are the four Irish professionals in the field, and they are augmented by an amateur contingent which happens to include a former professional, Lillian Behan.

Behan, the former British amateur champion, is joined by Curtis Cup player Eileen Rose Power, Hazel Kavanagh, Barbara Hackett, Michelle McGreevy and Pamela Murphy. The odds are stacked against one of the amateur players actually claiming the title; indeed, the suspicion exists that it will be hard for anyone to topple the 5 ft tall Nicholas, now that she has run back into something resembling her best form.