He may live almost 200 miles from the course, but "local knowledge" of a different kind could help Christy O'Connor Junior in his bid to finally win a title that has evaded him in a professional career spanning some three decades when the Smurfit Irish PGA Championship starts at Fota Island today.
O'Connor co-designed the parkland course, picturesquely situated on the River Lee, along with Peter McEvoy, and, as such, is aware of the need for careful course management.
Indeed, heavy rain in the region for the past two months has added significantly to the test for the nine European Tour regulars - and the cream of the domestic game - who are chasing a £16,500 top prize.
Since August 1st, no fewer than 17 inches of rainfall has been recorded in the Cork area and, consequently, Michael McCumis key, the secretary of the Irish Region PGA, has decreed that placing will be permitted. "We're here to get a result," said McCumiskey. The greens and teeboxes have been protected, with limited traffic, and McCumiskey expects the course to hold up well.
O'Connor fervently hopes so too. "This is one championship which is missing from my CV and, obviously, I'd love to win it," he said, adding, "Thankfully, my arm is well-rested, so I am in good shape. Next year is a big one for me, with the seniors' tour looming, and I'd love nothing better than to sign off this season by winning here.
"I know it will be tough," added O'Connor, "but it is also great to see so many of the younger tour players here. It is a tribute to the way that Michael Smurfit has built up this tournament that, now, it is automatically put on to their list of events for the season."
Indeed, recent history suggests that one of the touring professionals will emerge triumphant, with Des Smyth - who won the title for a fifth time last year - defending his crown, on a course he played for the first time in yesterday's pro-am, against a field that includes Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley (neither of whom has won the title) who are using the event as final fine-tuning for next week's Alfred Dunhill Cup.
The nine touring players in the 93-strong field - which will be reduced to 46 plus ties at the cut - are: Smyth, Harrington, McGinley, O'Connor, Philip Walton, Eamonn Darcy, Raymond Burns, David Higgins and John McHenry. The rest of the field includes the top 20 in last season's Irish Region Order of Merit and those who emerged from qualifying in Seapoint last month.
Royal Belfast's Paul Russell, who heads the Irish Region Order of Merit, and who intends to chase a tour card at the qualifying school in Spain next month, leads the crop of home-based players competing. Meanwhile, there are also nine former champions: Smyth (1979, '85, '86, '90 and '96), Walton (1987, '89, '91, and '95), Darcy (1988, '92), Martin Sludds (1984, '93), Ernie Jones (1955, '64), David Jones (1981), Hugh Jackson (1970), Paddy McGuirk (1976) and Jimmy Kinsella (1972, '73) - in the field.
However, it is hard to look beyond one of the touring professionals to land the championship, and Harrington, who returned to the circuit last week after a threeweek rest, could well be the man they all have to beat, even if he struggled to a 75 in yesterday's pro-am.
Kevin Morris, the local club professional, struck an early psychological blow for the non-tour players when he shot a four-underpar 68 to win the pro-am, one shot clear of Leslie Walker and Eamonn Darcy.
Darcy also had the distinction of leading home the winning team, consisting of K Club members David Adamson, Gerry Callanan and Michael Keating. And Father Sean Melady, from Waterford, had the distinction of having a hole-in-one at the seventh hole.
