1996

Venue: Druids Glen

Prize-fund: £750,000 (winner: £127,551)

Champion: Colin Montgomerie (Scotland) 69-69-73-68

Winning Total: 279 (-5)

Best Irish: Ronan Rafferty and Raymond Burns (tied 17th)

When Colin Montgomerie incurred a triple-bogey seven at the 13th (his fourth) in the first round, the on-course bookmakers reacted by substantially increasing his odds. The office in the tented village was actually quite close to Monty's indiscretion and, when a number of spectators following him realised the now generous price available, they didn't hesitate.

By Sunday afternoon, that "disaster" turned out to be nothing more than a blip as the big Scot took his first Irish Open title on a course that was set up like a US Open venue. "It suits me," declared Montgomerie. "This is the way all courses should be set up for tournaments in Europe." It was an observation which wasn't shared by many of his fellow-players.

The 13th hole came in for particular scrutiny. But, in fairness, Montgomerie - even after shooting a seven there - resisted any criticism. That triple-bogey was the product of a tee-shot that finished on the bank of the stream and, in the act of extricating it, his foot slipped and he had a fresh air followed by a fluff into water. It says a lot for his resilience that he covered the remaining 68 holes in eight-under-par as he went on to beat Andrew Oldcorn by one shot. Oldcorn had the title in his grasp and, playing the last, needed a par to win and a bogey to tied. He took a double-bogey six and Montgomerie later stated: "This is my 11th victory on the European Tour and my most fortunate - my heart goes out to Andrew."

It was typical Irish summer weather: rain, hail showers, thunder and lightning. The home brigade failed to blossom with Raymond Burns and Ronan Rafferty finishing closest to the action in tied-17th place. Rookie professional Gary Murphy's plight summed up the Irish experience. Playing on a sponsor's invite, he happily survived all four rounds and, enjoying the pro's life, said after his fourth round: "I'm off to the bank to pay my caddie." Murphy was later disqualified for signing for the wrong score.

1997

Venue: Druids Glen

Prize-fund: £750,000 (winner: £113,636)

Champion: Colin Montgomerie (Scotland) 68-70-69-62

Winning Total: 269 (-15)

Best Irish: Padraig Harrington and Philip Walton (tied 7th)

When Lee Westwood was asked on the Saturday evening after the third round who he feared most in the field, the Englishman replied: "No-one. You must fancy your chances with a three-shot lead." He hadn't reckoned on Colin Montgomerie shooting a final round 62, however. When asked to comment on the Scot's course-crushing round later, Westwood remarked in a voice heavy with irony, "it was a really lovely round to watch - I really enjoyed it."

Montgomerie himself hadn't believed it was possible for anyone to score such figures on a course as tough as Druids Glen. "The round has to rate among the best of my career," he admitted. In fact, it enabled him to turn a three-shot deficit into a seven-shot winning margin over Westwood and Monty's round of an eagle, eight birdies and a solitary bogey had a mystical air about it.

So, from a position of dominance, Westwood ended up looking over his shoulder at those who were attempting to wrest second place from him. Nick Faldo related how his caddie Fanny Sunesson was momentarily stunned when she hit her head on a sponsor's board. "Some guy came out of the crowd and carried the bag for me. I asked was he expensive or cheap and then he gave me the wrong club. Luckily Fanny came back . . . she was okay." Faldo eventually finished third, but the Irish challenge never really got going and Padraig Harrington and Philip Walton in tied 7th (but 14 shots adrift of Montgomerie) proved best.

1998

Venue: Druids Glen

Prize-fund: £967,000 (winner: £159,991)

Champion: David Carter (England) 68-72-67-71 * bt Colin Montgomerie (Scotland) in play-off

Winning Total: 278 (-6)

Best Irish: John McHenry (tied 3rd)

There was sense of deja vu about it all when Colin Montgomerie shot an opening round 65 to take a three-stroke lead on the first day. "The course is terrific, it's set up for a world class field," he gushed. However, a second round 74 - which saw the big Scot slip back to a stroke behind surprise leaders John McHenry and Craig Hainline - suggested that this championship had some dramatics in store.

McHenry, without a tour card, was playing courtesy of a sponsor's invite after he went into the Murphy Brewery offices in Cork earlier in the year and literally got down on his knees to beg for one. "I know I can compete with these guys . . . the real test is to do it for four days," insisted the player who went into the tournament without a penny in prize-money after missing the cut in all four events he had played on the secondary Canadian Tour.

And the Irishman held on to the bitter end. His third place finish earned him £53,996 which was enough to win him a card for the 1999 season - but it was insufficient to take the title. Instead, David Carter, 16 months after his life was saved by neurosurgery, claimed his first tournament win in a playoff win over Montgomerie. On the 16th hole, in the final round, two youngsters found Carter's ball in the high rough with the search time almost up. "I said to myself, `it's meant to be'," recalled the Englishman. He managed a bogey six there that felt "like a birdie" and, in the play-off, Monty hooked his drive into rough and misjudged his lay-up and put the ball into water. It was Carter's title.