Cabrera returns to European Tour in Ireland
IN: News | European PGA | Smurfit Kappa European Open (2007) | Preview | by Bruce Young | 04 Jul 2007
It’s the Smurfit European Open this week for the European Tour and the K Club plays host as it has since 1995 when Bernhard Langer won the event when it was played in Ireland for the first time.
The two latest heroes of the European Tour, Angel Cabrera and Padraig Harrington will command the attention of the media and fans alike but for different reasons. Cabrera plays for the first time since his stunning win at Oakmont while Harrington looks to create history by becoming the first player to win the Irish Open and the European Open in the same year in Ireland.
The K Club just outside of Dublin is an Arnold Palmer designed layout featuring Penn A4 Creeping Bent grass greens. This course has been used for most of the events played here although in 2004, when the event was won by Retief Goosen, the adjacent Smurfit course was the layout use while alterations were made to the Palmer layout to accommodate the Ryder Cup last year.
The tournament provides prizemoney of £2.4 million and brings together not only Cabrera and Harrington but Paul Casey will also dispute favouritism. After winning in Abu Dhabi earlier this year Casey continues to produce many good results in 2007. There is the possibility of a let down factor for the US Open Champion and Harrington has not exaclty gone on with it after his great win at the Irish Open at Adare Manor. Harrington has played this venue well however but Casey has a chance to put together another very good event this week.
Niclas Fasth is having a brilliant season in 2007 and is on track for his greates year on the European Tour. His fourth place at the US Open was a marvellous performance but was followed up with a win in Munich two weeks ago and he is clearly in his best form of the year. Fasth does not have a good record at this venue but such is his form right now he might just overocme that.
Like Niclas Fasth South African, Richard Sterne, is having a stellar season. His record at the K Club is hardly inspriing but Sterne has developed into such a good player that like Fasth he might overcome any issues he has with the golf course.
Bradley Dredge is in a purple patch of form at present and played well in this event last year where led after 36 holes before finishing 9th. It will be interesting to see how Graeme Storm backs up from his maiden European Tour win last week but he did well in this event last year.
Lee Westwood is a two time winner at the K Club and is back on track with his game after his win in Spain earlier this year.
The Australasians are headed by previous winner Michael Campbell looking to find some form at a venue he enjoys. Peter O’Malley, Brett Rumford, Marcus Fraser, previuos winner, Peter Senior, Wade Ormsby, Matthew Millar, Terry Price and Andrew Tampion make up the rest of the Australians.
