Old heads turn at Kinsale

He fondled the familiar tiger head-cover like it was a treasured toy from his not-too-distant youth. The clubs had travelled by road and Cian Daly was told that their distinguished owner would be along in about an hour. Plenty of time for photographs.

This was the scene at the Old Head of Kinsale, approaching noon yesterday. Indeed it was a scene of high-anxiety. Would the super-six of Tiger Woods, David Duval, Mark O'Meara, Payne Stewart, Lee Janzen and Stuart Appleby make the journey by helicopter from Waterville, given that the famous promontory was shrouded in dense fog?

Blessed relief, they were on their way. Which meant that 16-year-old Cian, who was described by caddie-master Noel Hurley as "a gem of a kid", would have the distinction of caddying for Woods. That, in turn, led to the assumption that his wild dreams would be of becoming a tournament professional, just like his hero.

"Not really," said the serious young man from Blackrock, Cork. "I've been studying the classical violin for 12 years, but my real ambition is to get into the aeronautical industry, possibly as an engineer with NASA." And his favourite composer? "Oh, I love Paginini," he replied.

Clearly a youth of many talents, given the impression he made while on caddying duties at the Old Head since he first started there, nearly three years ago. But there wasn't time for further conversation. Suddenly, the air was filled with the eerie combination of a lone piper and a sonorous foghorn. The guests were on their way.

The fog showed no sign of lifting as they set off the first tee in a six-ball. Caddies, all locals, indicated the best lines to take, while resident professional David Murray gave more specific information. The players were boys again, clearly enjoying the idea of doing something dramatically different from target play at an American country club.

As I suggested to Woods, the best pictures are on radio. Now was his chance to draw mental pictures, imagining where his shots might be landing. And wondering what lay beyond.

The crowd was increasing with every hole, but it remained of modest proportions, probably no more than 100. Which meant that crowd control was of a decidedly gentle nature. "Everyone who hasn't won a USPGA Tour event, please keep to this side," the crowd were told. The professionals smiled.

With no sign of the fog lifting, the likelihood grew that they would settle for nine holes and rearrange their day for a course where they could actually see what they were doing. Not a hint of it, as tee-shots were smashed down the 514-yard 10th, which Woods reduced, downwind, to a drive, nine-iron and an eight-foot putt, for the only eagle of the day.

Soon, the players were back on the cliff-edge, only now they could actually see the 300-foot drop to churning, Atlantic breakers below. We were on the tee at the spectacular 12th, where drives are hit over an elbow of the rock-face, towards a landing area, way in the distance. Oh blessed day - the fog was lifting.

Appleby, who spoke into a camcorder as he filmed the spectacular scene, couldn't resist hitting a few three-iron shots down towards the rocks. On a fun day, why not have some fun?

Finally, as they headed along the 459-yard 14th and back towards the ocean once more, the fog had disappeared and the Old Head was revealed in all its majesty. And it was a timely revelation for the spectacular, finishing holes.

Only three of them hit the green at the splendidly re-shaped 16th, where solid three-iron shots were needed to reach the green, 199 yards away into a left to right crosswind. Then came the 626-yard 17th, where Woods let out a squeal of laughter after carving a driver second shot out towards the briny.

Then, as six o'clock approached, they came up the 18th, watched by a phalanx of onlookers, strategically positioned along the terrace of the clubhouse. And they were applauded, one hoped as much for their patience with the weather as for their golfing skills.

"Those spectacular views towards the finish were worth the wait," said Woods. His close friend O'Meara added: "With those breathtaking views, it's got to be one of the most dramatic locations for a golf course I've every seen."

Then, in typically measured tones, Duval observed: "I really love coming to your country where I have always been made to feel so welcome. This was a wonderful opportunity of not only becoming acclimatised, but of hitting the sort of knock-down shots and run-up shots we will need at Carnoustie next week."

And what of Cian Daly, who had guided the world's number one through the fog? "Tiger shot 71," he said with a proud smile. Both of them had done a fine job.