London claims more victims
IT was described as the tournament that no-one wanted to win, but the fact than no one player took a firm grasp of the European Open trophy just goes to show how tough the London GC in Ash, Kent is.
I’m fortunate to have won there twice and know just how difficult the back nine can play, in particular the 471-yard par four 18th which claimed 154 bogeys, 48 doubles and 26 scores of 7+ over the course of the four rounds. The player who mastered the windy conditions and tough course best was France’s Christian Cevaer, who played beautifully for his one-shot victory, ending a horror run of being without a top 30 finish in his last 15 events.
Across the water, Steve Stricker claimed his first PGA Tour win in a couple of years to take the Crowne Plaza Invitational in Texas, but you had to feel sorry for Tim Clar, who missed a five-foot putt and hit the flagstick in the three-way play-off.
As for me, I make the trip to Ballbunion GC this week to renew my on-going love affair with the Irish Open.
Twice I won this event on the European Tour, back in 1981 and 1995, and claimed the Seniors version in 2006 after a four-way play-off.
Ballybunion is one of Ireland’s toughest links courses so a lot will depend on the weather, but I’m playing well and confident of keeping the run going.