Philip Reid
The dream is to one day clasp the claret jug, or hold the Wanamaker Trophy. To get to the position of even getting the chance to win a British or a US Open, however, professionals must first find a tour to play on. For no fewer than 38 Irish players, the first stage in pursuing that dream gets under way at the European Tour Pre-Qualifying I, which starts at various venues today.
Among the Irishmen setting out on the long road that they hope will lead to the European Tour's final qualifying school at San Roque in southern Spain on November 10th-15th are a selection of fledgling tour players, club professionals and amateurs.
The largest group of Irish players will be in action at St Annes Old Links, where 19 of them will seek to progress to the PQII, which will be held on November 2nd-5th.
Michael McGeady, who won an Irish Senior Cup medal with North West on Saturday, is among those in action at St Annes.
There's also a large Irish contingent - 18 - seeking to emerge from PQI at Carden Park, where former tour player Raymond Burns will be in action.
Meanwhile, four Irish players - Michael Hoey, David Higgins, Stephen Browne and Colm Moriarty - will compete in the inaugural Kazakhstan Open on the European Challenge Tour. Hoey and Higgins are involved in the battle to top the Challenge Tour money list, which brings with it the bonus of a place in the field for the HSBC Tournament Winners Championship in China in November.
Irish players competing in European Tour pre-qualifying one: at St Annes Old Links - Eamonn Brady, Mark Campbell, Darren Crowe, Ricky Elliott, Noel Fox, Shane Franklin, John Kelly, Michael Lavelle, Conor Mallon, Peter Martin, Michael McGeady, Kevin McGrath, Seán McTernan, David Mortimer, Mark Murphy, Alan Murray, Mark O'Sullivan, Danny Sugrue, Barrie Trainor.
At Carden Park - Jimmy Bolger, Greg Bowden, Raymond Burns, Michael Collins, Pádraig Dooley, John Dwyer, Ted Higgins, David P Jones, Justin Kehoe, Michael McDermott, Paul McDonald, Gavin McNeill, Damian Mooney, Chris Moriarty, Mervyn Owens, Alan Thomas, Leslie Walker, Peter Williamson.
At Chart Hills - Finbarr Madden.
