IRELAND is a haven for golfers - and here at the K Club it's easy to see why. I'm in Dublin for the Smurfit European Open, which starts on Thursday and feel very comfortable and confident.

After missing out on qualifying for The Open on Monday - more of that later - I drove straight back home to Hartlepool, had four hours sleep and then caught a flight from Newcastle to Dublin.

It's not ideal and a bit hectic, but on getting here it's fair to say it was worth the effort.

The flight was a quick one and perfect, it's nice to have a small flight after the amount of air miles you clock up on the Tour.

I had a quick practice round in the afternoon and it went well, I played quite nicely. I played with a couple of my mates on the Tour - Steve O'Hara and Neil Cheetham - and we had great, as the Irish would say, craic.

We had a little game of skins, just for a couple of quid - or Euros as it is over here. I holed my second shot which was great and got me off to a great start, but it was probably downhill all the way after that because I lost!

THE last time I was playing in Ireland was a good one because in the Irish Open I finished 18th. I was on top of my game on the final day when I shot a 68.

It's always nice to play in the Emerald Isle, the people really know and love their golf and they show everyone on the Tour a lot of respect.

The K Club is a very prestigious course, it has a great layout and plenty of water hazards to avoid. There is water in play on 15 holes!

It's certainly been well looked after since it was opened in 1991 and you can see there has been a lot of money spent on it.

Of course the next Ryder Cup is being held here and, judging by what I've seen so far, it will be a big success.

MY chances of qualifying for The British Open have just about disappeared. I took part in the qualifiers at Sunningdale on Monday and had a good opening round of 69 in the morning on the Old Course. I was off late afternoon on the New Course in the second round and it proved a bit of a disappointment.

I didn't get off to a very good start. I knew the leaders were well out of my reach and the thought of driving back to the North-East to catch my flight was in my mind, so I cut my second round short and headed home.

If I hadn't I wouldn't have had any sleep at all - never mind just four hours!

It was a low scoring qualifier, 135 made it and those on 136 needed a play-off, as these events normally are.

So, with that chance of playing at St Andrew's gone, my only hope is a decent next couple of tournaments. The European Open and The Scottish Open at Loch Lomond form a mini Order of Merit, with the leaders making The Open.

All I can hope for is two very good tournaments, but if I don't make it I won't be too disappointed.

I MISSED the cut in the French Open last weekend - I've not done that too many times this year, so I can't be too downhearted. I'm in 78th place on the Order of Merit, I've played in 20 tournaments and won just over 160,000 Euros. I've not secured my card for next season, but I know I'm not a million miles away.

It's within touching distance now and, remember, that was my aim when I returned to the tour. To be so close with such a big chunk of the schedule left is very pleasing.

Published: 29/06/2005