A SLIGHT alteration to the qualifying criteria for this year's Sarazen World Open Championship at Chateau Elan, Atlanta, has proven beneficial to Mark McNulty of Zimbabwe, and Ireland's Paul McGinley, whose respective wins in the Dutch Open and Austrian Open were achieved after the original cut off point.

The Sarazen event, which carries a prize fund of $1.9 million, is confined to winners of national open championships with successful players earning a two year exemption. This year's tournament takes place on October 31st to November 3rd.

When McGinley captured his first PGA European Tour victory in the Austrian Open, the win came too late to guarantee inclusion in the Sarazen as the cut off date was the British Open, two weeks earlier. However, McGinley's manager Andrew "Chubby" Chandler wrote to the organisers in the hope that the Dubliner could be included and has now received verbal confirmation to that effect.

It appears that the organisers decided to instigate a minor rule change - extending the cut-off date to the USPGA Championship, which just happened to be the same weekend as McGinley's Austrian Open success - which allowed McNulty and McGinley in to this year's event.

"I don't know whether our move prompted the change or if it was just a coincidence, but Paul is naturally happy that he will be able to compete this year, rather than having to wait over 12 months to make his appearance in the event," said Chandler.

"We have also written to Kapalua (Hawaii) and Japan seeking invitations and are awaiting replies, so Atlanta will be a better base to go on to tournaments in either place."

McGinley's inclusion means the Irish representation has been increased to four players. Padraig Harrington, winner of the Spanish Open in May, will also be making his debut, while Philip Walton, as winner of last year's English Open, and Raymond Burns, winner of the Norwegian Open on the European Challenge Tour in 1994, will also compete. Ernie Els was the inaugural winner of the Sarazen in 1994, with Frank Nobilo successful last year.

While the scramble for Ryder Cup places has commenced (Philip Walton, in tied seventh place, heads the Irish quest for places on the European team in this embryonic stage), a more immediate battle occupies the minds of tour rookies David Higgins and Francis Howley who are fighting to retain their cards.

Higgins, a former Irish amateur champion, is currently in 107th position with £45,273 on the Volvo Order of Merit, but Howley is in a rather more perilous position in 143rd with £28,384. The two players, however, will get an opportunity to put some more money in the bank this week when they compete in the European Masters in Crans sur Sierre.

It is estimated Higgins requires another £4,000 to ensure he retains his card but the only other tournaments they are guaranteed to play in this season are the Smurfit European Open at The K Club (thanks to invites) on September 26th-29th and the new Oki Pro Am tournament at La Moraleja on October 10th-13th, an event which clashes with the Alfred Dunhill Cup at St Andrews.

Ronan Rafferty, Philip Walton, Padraig Harrington, Eamonn Darcy, Des Smyth, Darren Clarke, Raymond Burns, Higgins and Howley comprise the Irish challenge in the European Masters, which starts on Thursday.

Ireland's leading woman professional Aideen Rogers - who has successfully retained her card on the European Women's PGA Tour flies to Palm Springs tomorrow to compete in the first qualifying tournament in an attempt to win her USLPGA card for next season.

Meanwhile, Mickey Walker, Europe's non playing captain, has named her five "wild cards" for the Sollieim Cup encounter with the United States at St Pierre, Chepstow, on September 20th-22nd. Kathryn Marshall, a reserve on the team in West Virginia two years ago, Helena Fredson, Lette Neuman, Catrin Nilsmark and Dale Reid have all received calls up from Walker.

But Carin HJ Hoch and veteran Lora Fairclough have been snubbed. Hoch, fifth in the European Order of Merit, was particularly upset Walker commented: "I know she didn't like it - but, then, none of the other players who felt they should have been included liked it either."

The seven players who automatically qualified for the team were: Annika Sorenstam, Laura Davies, Alison Nicholas, Lisa Hackney, Trish Johnson, Marie Laure de Lorenzi and Joanne Mofley. Marshall, Hackney and Morley will all be making their debuts in the event.

Colin Montgomerie has fallen one place to sixth in the Sony rankings of the world's top golfers after finishing ninth in the British Masters. The Scot is one of six players within 0.77 of a point of second placed Ernie Els, who lies behind leader Greg Norman. Australian Robert Allenby has moved up 10 places to 36th in the standings after winning the British Masters, his third European Tour victory of the year.

. Forty eight members of the Irish Countrywoman's Association representing 24 counties will compete in the annual ICA Siucra Golf Championships at Clontarf Golf Club next Friday. Last year's champions Brenda Duffy and Maureen Sheridan of Sligo will defend their title.

. Loren Roberts sank a six foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to defeat Jerry Kelly at the $1.2 million PGA Greater Milwaukee Open on Sunday and captured his second title of the year.

Roberts, who was three shots behind entering the final round, birdied four of the last six holes to force a playoff with Kelly.

Tiger Woods completed his first tournament as a professional in grand style by firing a final round three under par 68, including a hole in one.

Roberts shot a three under 68 to finish at 19 under 265. The 1994 runner up birdied the fourth hole and bogeyed the ninth and 10th before his surge on the last six regulation holes.

Roberts, who earned $216,000 for the victory, became the sixth multiple winner on Tour this year, having also taken the MCI Classic in April. This was Roberts' fourth career title.

Kelly, who started the day seven shots off the pace, carded a seven under 64 at the Brown Deer Park Golf Course.

Jesper Parnevik of Sweden, who was the leader entering the final round, had a chance to join Roberts and Kelly in the playoff, but missed a six foot par putt on the final hole to finish at one over 72 for the day and in a four way tie at 18 under 266.

Nolan Henke, who fired a course record tying 62 in the opening round, shot a 71 to join Parnevik, Steve Stricker and Andrew Magee in third place.

The 20 year old Woods, who turned professional last Tuesday after winning an unprecedented third successive US Amateur Championship, amazed the crowd by eagling the par five 485 yard fourth hole before firing a hole in one on the par three 188 yard 14th hole.