Torrance to miss Druids Glen

While three leading entries, including Darren Clarke, were announced yesterday for the Smurfit European Open, there were three notable withdrawals from next week's Murphy's Irish Open. The most disturbing of the latest absentees from Druids Glen is Sam Torrance, twice a winner of the title.

Nick Faldo and Retief Goosen have also withdrawn. And many will sympathise with Faldo's position, given poor recent form which saw him fail to survive four rounds in the US Open last weekend - his fourth missed cut in seven American events this season.

To his credit, Faldo showed the courtesy of making a personal phone call yesterday to Paddy Rossi, the tournament's press and players' manager. He said: "In recent months, I have had a demanding schedule (he has played 16 tournaments in four continents this year) and have played several events in Europe to gain as many Ryder Cup points as possible, while honouring my commitments to the US Tour."

He added: "Having next week off will allow me to practise and focus on various elements of my game. I have discussed my decision to withdraw from the Irish Open with Mark James (Europe's Ryder Cup captain), which he understands and I'm grateful for his support. I have assured him that I remain as determined and committed as ever to win a place in the team for Brookline."

Faldo's determination to extend a record Ryder Cup sequence of appearances to 12, seems rather fanciful at this stage, given his lowly position in the points table and poor recent form. But a player of his undoubted quality can never be discounted.

In the cases of Torrance and Goosen, the notification came through the PGA European Tour. According to Rossi, Goosen was "exhausted" while Torrance "has decided he needs a rest." Interestingly, both players missed the cut in the US Open last Friday, which obviously meant a curtailed stay in the US.

Clarke has come in for criticism, quite correctly, for failing to play in his national championship. One can have a certain sympathy with him, however, in that he claims to dislike the golf course, having missed the cut there last year.

But Torrance's case is rather different. After his victory at Mount Juliet in 1995 - he had earlier won in 1981 - the Scot enthused: "To win in a field of this class, this way, makes this the finest win of my career." Rossi described his withdrawal as "disappointing, especially in view of his position as a twice former winner of our title."

Meanwhile, Mathias Gronberg, who gained a crushing victory in last year's tournament, will be returning to defend the European Open on July 30th to August 2nd. The Swede will be joined by Clarke, Colin Montgomerie and Lee Westwood, while Ian Woosnam is also in line-up for The K Club.

Announcements regarding further leading participants will be made over the next few weeks.

The tournament is quite correctly being viewed as critical in the count-down to selection for the European team to defend the Ryder Cup at Brookline in September. In fact there will be only four further qualifying events - the Scandinavian Masters, the West of Ireland Classic, the USPGA Championship and the BMW International Open.

Tickets for the European Open are priced at £60 (season) and £25 (daily). But a £5 saving may be made on daily tickets by phoning the advance ticket hotline on (01) 662 1155.