If Nick Faldo is worried whether he will be fit enough to play next week's British Open, after withdrawing here yesterday with a damaged elbow, then the fears of two Irishman for Birkdale lay not with the elbow but where the elbow is taking them.
Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley should be among Ireland's top hopes for the third major, but after falling from grace in the first round here, it was back to the drawing board last night.
Both had shared the early lead over a course not quite as tough as Druids Glen, but with its share of minefields nonetheless. It seemed they were over the sort of problems which had bedevilled them in Co Wicklow as they missed the cut last week. Not so.
By the 12th, Harrington was wishing he could just pack in and go to the practice ground, naturally worried about an ailing swing so close to Birkdale. Two double-bogeys were his undoing as he eventually was forced to sign for a 74, three-over-par and seven shots from the leader Ian Woosnam.
It was as late as the 16th that McGinley walked his minefield. He is cursed by the blocks at the moment. At the long hole he struck a four-iron so far right it "ballooned" into the lake. A double went on his card, too. Anxious that he might repeat the feat at the next when a four-iron was needed off the tee at the short hole, McGinley was double-guessed by his compensation and this time hit straight and true - through the green into the bunker.
After signing for a 72 - at least he matched Colin Montgomerie - McGinley was not fooled by being only five shots off Woosnam's lead.
"The bottom line is that I'm playing very poorly, struggling on every shot," said McGinley. "I'm hitting every shot with a blockcut. Only my short-game kept me going early on and allowed me to hang in."
It was off the practice ground yet again for a lengthy session with his coach Bob Torrance, who thought he had spotted the problem and solved it the day before. Now McGinley has to hope the gruff Scot can work a minor miracle. He will be heading for British Open pre-qualifying on Sunday and Monday otherwise because there will be no hope of salvation from a big cheque and a qualifying place from this event. "A nice time for your game to go," said McGinley sardonically.
John McHenry is still buzzing but his fight-back from a poor start came to a bad end when he three-putted the last for a 73 in soaking conditions. His problem was thinking more about loose grass clippings on his putter head, whisking them off and then losing focus on his line when going for the second putt.
He remains hopeful of a good finish still to fire his British Open chances of qualifying on the order of merit after this event .
Philip Walton damaged his chances with a 77 and will need something special over the next three days if he is to rise that extra place on the R and A's table which ends on Saturday night.
Des Smyth's and Raymond Burns' 75s leave them much to do as well. Eamonn Darcy, his perennially sore back getting a thorough soaking in the afternoon downpour, decided enough was enough and retired after a 79, not wishing to damage his British Open qualifying chances by being laid up at the weekend.
