Walton Happy in The Hague

After a steady start to his European Senior Tour career, Philip Walton believes he is rediscovering his competitive edge and feels the time is right to take the handbrake off at this week’s Van Lanschot Senior Open.

The Irishman, a three time winner on The European Tour in the 1990s, spent nearly seven years away from full-time competition before making his Senior Tour debut in the Mallorca Open Senior last month.

He has finished in the top 30 in three out of four events so far in 2012, but with a busy Senior Tour schedule ahead of him over the next two months, Walton believes bigger performances are just around the corner, starting this week at The Royal Haagsche Golf & Country Club in The Hague.

“I’ve had a pretty steady start so far, but now I’m ready to rock and roll,” said the 50 year old Dubliner. “I feel like I’ve shaken off the rust. I’ve played four tournaments now so I feel like I’m ready to do something and shoot a few good scores.

“It’s all mental really, but I feel like I’m ready now. It’s been great being back on Tour so far, meeting all the lads again. It’s been good fun, but I’d really like to step it up now and do well over the next few weeks leading up to The Senior Open Championship at Turnberry. It would be nice to be in good shape for that.

“So this is a big week for me. I’ve always done pretty well in Holland. I‘ve had a good few top tens here on the main Tour but I’ve not won yet, so fingers crossed I can change that this week.”

Walton, who secured the winning point in The 1995 Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills, will attempt to succeed fellow Irishman Des Smyth as winner of the Van Lanschot Senior Open, following Smyth’s magnificent final round 65 last year which sealed a two-shot victory over Peter Fowler.

Also in the field is former World Number One and Masters Champion Ian Woosnam, who will be looking to find form ahead of defending his Berenberg Bank Masters title next week.

Irish Open Weekend Sold Out

The Irish Open at Royal Portrush has officially sold out on Saturday June 30 and Sunday July 1, and time is running out to book tickets in advance for Thursday June 28 and Friday June 29.

The European Tour announced that for the first time in its history, it has had to close tickets sales for any day of a regular Tour event as the Irish Open became the best selling tournament on the schedule this year.

Spectators were also urged to book tickets for Thursday and Friday in advance although the deadline to do that is 5pm tomorrow (Friday). While it may be possible to purchase day tickets for those days on the gate, that definitely won’t be an option on the Saturday and Sunday which are completely sold out.

The European Tour is urging spectators to plan their journeys in advance by booking Translink rail and bus services or, if travelling by car, to follow dedicated event car park signage in order to facilitate the ease of access and exit to the event.

“We are preparing for a crowd around the 100,000 mark for the week of the Championship, and with a particularly large spectator audience expected for the weekend, we felt it prudent to stop selling tickets for Saturday and Sunday,” said Irish Open Championship Director Antonia Beggs.

“For operational reasons we also have to close the sale of advance tickets for Thursday and Friday at 5pm this Friday. Due to the close proximity to the event, it would be impossible to guarantee that tickets bought after this Friday would arrive in time for the start of the tournament.”

Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) Chief Executive Alan Clarke said that this year’s tournament will be a record-breaking success and reiterated that people cannot turn up at the weekend without a ticket.

“This year’s Irish Open is sure to be one of the biggest in the competition’s history with advance ticket sales reaching unprecedented levels and record crowds expected in Co. Antrim.” said Clarke. 

“While in previous years, it may have been possible for spectators to turn up on the day and purchase tickets on the day, we would strongly urge people not to try this on Saturday and Sunday as the event is completely sold out at the weekend and there is absolutely no chance of being admitted without a ticket.

“This reflects the tremendous interest in the competition this year but really it comes as no surprise to us given the fact that it’s the first time the Irish Open has been held in Northern Ireland for 59 years, and of course the incredible success in recent years of our golfers, who are all taking part in the Championship alongside a host of other top players,” he added.

“The Irish Open is the latest in a packed programme of major events, celebrations and commemorations during 2012 which are changing the global perception of Northern Ireland as a destination and restoring a sense of pride to everyone who lives here.” he added.

Beggs added: “It is important that the spectators enjoy the experience of attending the event so we are reminding everyone to follow the official Automobile Association event signage to and from the tournament rather than rely on ‘SatNav technology’ as the signs will direct spectators to the best available car park at the time.”

Speaking about dedicated rail and bus services, Translink’s Arthur Hamilton encouraged anyone travelling to the Irish Open to book train or coach tickets now to guarantee their seats.

“In addition to normal scheduled services, extra trains will run from Belfast and Derry–Londonderry to Portrush with tickets available to book online or purchase in advance from main train stations,” said Arthur.

“Dedicated golf coach services will depart locations across Northern Ireland and are available to book online only. Ulsterbus Tours is also offering both travel and Irish Open ticket packages.

“Golf rail service online ticket bookings will close at 2pm three days prior to travel. However, additional rail tickets will also be available to purchase from selected stations on day of travel.

“Golf coach ticket bookings will close at 5pm on day prior to travel and are only available to purchase online

For travel information including bus and rail ticket bookings click www.translink.co.uk/irishopen or call the Translink contact centre on 00 44 (0) 28 9066 6630.

Travelling Week for Harrington

Padraig Harrington returns to action this week after finishing fourth at the US Open last weekend – and a birdie at the last would have put him in a play-off with eventual winner Webb Simpson.

Both are now at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut, where for the first two rounds Simpson joins Keegan Bradley and Bubba Watson, current holders of the USPGA and Masters titles.

Harrington, meanwhile, is with fellow Open champions Louis Oosthuizen and Justin Leonard.

“It was a case of so near, but yet so far,” said the 40-year-old Dubliner. “It was my best finish of the year so far, but I am coming away from San Francisco knowing that I could so easily have got to the winning score.”

He four-putted twice and three-putted once on the opening day, then on the final hole pulled his approach “a fraction” and found a bad lie in the bunker. Harrington thought he needed a birdie and after failing to get up and down was relieved to be proved right.

“I must admit that I was very happy to see Webb finish on one over par. Had two-over played off I would have been devastated.”

He had gone into the week 94th in the world and came out of it 75th. That is still a long way from where he wants to be, but it makes him look forward to the British Open at Royal Lytham in under a month’s time even more.

“Looking back on the week it only hammered home to me that the most important thing at a major is your short game. It all comes down to wedges, chipping, putting and bunker play.”

Despite having played five of the last six weeks, Harrington also has the Irish and Scottish Opens before the next major. That will make it nine tournaments in 11 weeks. He hopes it will be a run that also brings him back into the Ryder Cup reckoning. One of Colin Montgomerie’s three picks two years ago he is down at 23rd on the table and captain Jose Maria Olazabal has gone for only two wild cards.

As well as moving to a career-high fifth in the world, Simpson leapt from 25th to third on the American cup standings behind Jason Dufner and Watson.

He and Watson were partners – and rookies – at the Presidents Cup last November and, sent out first each time by captain Fred Couples, won three of their four games together.

England’s Ian Poulter, 13th in the European race, looks to hit back from his 41st place in San Francisco. “Two days at home after US Open feels like a week off,” he said on Twitter before flying to Hartford.