Will Lahinch’s past champions tee up at Open?

LAHINCH Golf Club has a history of amateur championship winners who went on to greater things in the professional ranks and they include Major champions Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell, along with Paul McGinley and David Higgins from Waterville.

Clarke (1990), McGinley (1991), Higgins (1994) and McDowell (2000) were all winners of the South of Ireland at Lahinch, but Harrington never managed to win the famous old trophy, losing finals to Higgins (1994) and Jody Fanagan (1995).

The Stackstown man did win an amateur title at Lahinch when he beat Ritchie Coughlan from Birr in the final of the Irish Close there in 1995, and he will return to the Clare links for the first time since then to compete in this year’s Irish Open in June.

Harrington, who had been out of action since November due to injury, made his comeback last weekend and is the first of the former Lahinch amateur champions to declare for the Irish Open which is, of course, hosted by his great friend and former schoolmate Paul McGinley.

As for the rest of that group of past champions, I’m not too sure if McGinley will play as host or if Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell will travel from the USA, but what about David Higgins?

The Waterville man, who no longer competes on the European Tour, retains a very competitive edge as one of the best players on the Irish domestic circuit and it would be great to see him tee it up at Lahinch in June.

I’m not sure of the qualification set-up through the Irish PGA rankings but even if he doesn’t qualify it would be nice if was afforded a sponsor’s invite to take part.