Troon Digest

Ireland to stay off the championship rosterDon't hold your breath waiting for the British Open to be staged in Ireland, either north or south. Nick Faldo - who has been commissioned to redesign the Old Course at Ballyliffin in Donegal - floated the idea that it would be worth bringing the championship to Ireland, and even suggested that it would be worth considering bringing it as far away as Australia.

However, Peter Dawson, the chief executive of the R & A, yesterday discounted any prospect of bringing the championship Down Under - and didn't give any hint that the event, which was held at Royal Portrush in 1951, when it was won by Max Faulkner, would be returning to an Irish links at any time soon.

"One of the strengths of the Open Championship is its tradition," said Dawson, "and playing on British-style links golf courses I think would preclude any thought that we would have of taking it away from the British Isles."

Future venues for the British Open have been confirmed up to 2008. Next year, the championship returns to St Andrews; in 2006, it will be played at Royal Liverpool, Hoylake; in 2007, it will be staged at Carnoustie, and in 2008 it will be at Royal Birkdale.

Singh fighting fit

Beware the injured golfer? Padraig Harrington wasn't the only one nursing aches and pains in the build-up to the season's second major. Davis Love was receiving treatment on a recurrent back injury, and Vijay Singh, the world's number three, was forced to cancel a scheduled press conference because of "illness".

Nevertheless, Singh - who took in only one practice round over the links - was confident he would be a strong contender. A year ago he finished tied-second with Thomas Bjorn, a shot out of a play-off with Ben Curtis, and that's a championship the Fijian believes slipped away from him.

"I was disappointed I didn't pull it out, but this is another year and I feel I'm playing better than I did last year. If I can just believe in myself and go out there and do it, I'll be okay. When you get in there with a chance, you've got to take it. I haven't been able to do that. But this is the year to do it, if there is one!"

McIlroy shines again

If ever confirmation of the frighteningly high standard of golf were needed, it came in Ayrshire yesterday, but not at Royal Troon, rather at nearby Barassie where the World Junior Open was played.

Jordan Cox, a plus-three handicapper from the US, shot a final round 69 for 215 to win the boys' title. The 16-year-old finished two shots ahead of New Zealand's Samuel Shin and England's Oliver Fisher.

Fifteen-year-old Rory McIlroy, the Irish Youths' champion and a plus-two handicapper, finished in fourth after shooting a finishing round 75 for 219, four shots behind the winner. The 95 competitors from 59 countries will attend all four days of the British Open as guests of the R & A.

Trio of Irish debutants

Of the six Irish players in the field, three of them - Graeme McDowell, Danny Sugrue and Brian McElhinney - are making their debuts in the championship. Darren Clarke first played at Royal Birkdale in 1991 when he finished tied-64. Paul McGinley made his debut at Muirfield in 1992 when he missed the cut, and Padraig Harrington's first appearance came at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 1996 when he finished tied-18th.