Panther Lake at Orange County National. Former Walker Cup and European Tour player John McHenry won’t be playing on the lucrative Champions Tour when he turns 50 next year.

Darren Clarke at this year’s US PGA. Picture: Eoin Clarke www.golffile.ieStarting again at 45 is tough enough for a major winner like Darren Clarke. But it’s going to an even steeper climb for Cork’s John McHenry as he bids to qualify for the Champions Tour.

Former Walker Cup and European Tour player John McHenry has just begun an interesting series in the Irish Examiner analysing the performances of Ireland’s tour players and suggesting what they might need to improve in 2011.

His first piece on Padraig Harrington said what’s already been said here and elsewhere - the three-time major winner’s obsession with adding distance off the tee has made him more innacurate and he must find a way to hit more fairways and quickly.

But the second installment on Rory McIlroy buries a few interesting remarks on the Holywood starlet’s team, both on and off the course.

Ever wanted to compare your skills with a European Tour winner or a Walker or Ryder Cup player? Well, here’s your chance.

According to Shaun McBride, the Director of Golf for Single Figure Golfer, you can win the chance play under former Walker Cup skipper Peter McEvoy in a 10-strong amateur side against a team of former Ryder Cup, Walker Cup and Solheim Cup stars.

The 3 Irish Open could have a jet-set field with high flyers Vijay Singh, Geoff Ogilvy and Sergio Garcia on a hit-list of superstar attractions.

The European Tour is planning to ask mega-rich supporters like JP McManus and Dermot Desmond for help so they can fly the stars from The Players in Sawgrass to Ireland for the €3m event at Baltray from May 14-17.

 

Darren Clarke expects his Champions Club at Moyvalley to present a stiff test when it hosts the fifth edition of the Challenge of Ireland from June 11-14.

But joining the luxury Co Kildare club now costs just €10,000 for a preference share - a serious drop on the €75,000 joining fee that was announced at the opening in October 2006.