Golding enjoying his fame at K Club
Philip Golding’s new celebrity status was reflected in the company he kept in Ireland today.
Four days after becoming the French Open champion the man previously famous for a record 16 trips to the European Tour qualifying school partnered Ryder Cup pair Padraig Harrington and Thomas Bjorn in the first round of the Smurfit European Open at the K Club near Dublin.
When Miles Tunnicliff won the Great North Open last year he found himself similarly elevated – and admitted he found it difficult to adjust.
Nine members of last September’s Ryder Cup are taking part, the missing three being Sergio Garcia, Jesper Parnevik and Pierre Fulke.
The Irish duo of Padraig Harrington, runner-up to Michael Campbell last year, and Darren Clarke, winner two years ago, are the favourites along with South African Retief Goosen, leading money-winner in Europe the past two seasons.
