Harrington debuts at Celtic Manor
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2008 The Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open | Preview | 27 May 2008
The Celtic Manor Wales Open heralds the debut of the new Twenty Ten course at the Celtic Manor Resort, so called as it has been created specifically to host the Ryder Cup in 2010.
Over the past three years the event has been held at the adjacent Roman Road course at the Resort but the original Wentwood Hills course at the same venue has undergone a total redevelopment in order to cater for the demands of the Ryder Cup and it faces its first real examination this week. Designed by European Golf Design, a joint venture between IMG and European Tour, the designed came under the control of the organisation’s head designer, Ross McMurray.
The field this year has been enhanced by the involvement of Padraig Harrington in the event for the first time, headlining perhaps the strongest field the event has hosted in its nine year history.
Harrington may be playing this event for the first time but because this particular layout is new to everyone in the field, he is at no disadvantage. He arrives in Wales off the back of one or two indifferent weeks but with a 5th place at Augusta not too far back in his memory.
Robert Karlsson is a previous winner at this venue although not over this layout. He is in fine form after he too had a good week at Augusta when 8th then followed up with three third placed finishes since. He three putted the last at Wentworth last week to finish two behind the leading pair but must figure this week it would seem, given his very good recent form.
It is always hard to back up one win with another the following week but Miguel Angel Jimenez seems more than capable of doing just that. His win last week was not exactly out of the blue and a good follow up seems likely.
Martin Kaymer struggled at the Masters but since then he has been very solid and he is a real chance to win for the second time this season to follow his win in Abu Dhabi.
Oliver Wilson has done everything but win of late with three runner up placings in his last five starts including his playoff loss to Jimenez last week at Wentworth at the BMW PGA Championship. His time must come soon and if it were to be this week then few would begrudge him the title.
Welshman, Bradley Dredge, has the weight of local expectations on his shoulders but it has not bothered him in several very impressive efforts in this event previously. Despite a missed cut last week at the PGA Championship he is playing well overall this season and stands a chance of becoming an national hero, if only briefly.
Defending champion, Richard Sterne, has concentrated most of his efforts in the US of late, apart from when missing the cut last week at Wentworth. He has made several cuts in the US and a return to more familiar surrounds might just assist him to a good week.
The Australasians are headed by Johnnie walker Classic winner, Mark Brown, while Peter O’Malley, Scott Strange, Gareth Paddison and Peter Fowler are also in the field.
