The K Club in Straffan, County Kildare, is the venue for the 30th Smurfit Kappa European Open this weekend. Europe's top golfers will compete for a prize fund of over €3.56m.
Competing at this year's event will be local favourite Padraig Harrington, New Zealand's Michael Campbell, Paul Lawrie, Sandy Lyle and Colin Montgomerie of Scotland, and England's Lee Westwood, Paul Casey, David Howell, and Kenneth Ferrie, the winner in 2005.
Also competing will be US Open champion Angel Cabrera, who was second in this event in 2000. Stephen Dodd of Wales will defend his European Open title.
The Irish challenge will include Paul McGinley, Graeme McDowell, Michael Hoey, Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane, Gary Murphy and Philip Walton.
The event begins on Wednesday July 4 with the Pro-Am tournament and finishes on Sunday July 8. Admission is free to all spectators on Wednesday and large crowds are expected. There is also no admission charge on Thursday, day one of the tournament.
Competing in the Pro-Am will be Gianfranco Zola, the former Chelsea football star, Hurling Legend DJ Carey, Sunderland Chairman and former Irish International Niall Quinn, and Eddie Jordan, former owner of Jordan Grand Prix.
The K Club was the venue for last September's Ryder Cup in which the Europeans triumphed over the United States by 18½ to 9½ points.
County Kildare News
July 02, 2007