The absence of the two main men, which is a matter that requires some explanation and discussion, presents a greater opportunity for success to about 10 other players.

Quite suddenly it is almost anyone's championship!

McIlroy and Ward, who must not be criticised because they are young amateurs free to seek what they see to be the best way forward in the game, have opted to play in the St Andrew's Links Trophy. A decision which has disappointed the Golfing Union of Ireland and many others.

To be clear, the St Andrew's event is not a promotion of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club. It is run by the St Andrew's Links Trust, which operates the public courses.

It is not a championship, rather a scratch cup, albeit one which attracts most of the top amateurs in Britain and some from overseas.

Two more of our leading players are also shown on the St Andrew's Links Trophy draw.

Stephen Grant from Birr has withdrawn to play Cork, where he will be a solid contender, having realised the conflict. Muskerry's Niall Turner is in both draws but out of reach in America and it remains to be seen whether he tees it up at home or away.

Seeking to name winners at golf is a hazardous occupation. However, a crosscheck of those who reached last year's quarter-finals at The European Club with the top 10 Irishmen in the recent Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin throws up two names for particular consideration.

Conor Doran of Banbridge lost to McIlroy in last year's semi-final and was a tiedthird Irishman at this year's Open.

Walker Cup squad member, Jonathan Caldwell of Clandeboye, was a quarterfinalist last year and a tiedeighth Irishman at Royal Dublin.

The Ulster presence is particularly daunting with Richard Kilpatrick - runnerup in the Open - and Darren Crowe, sure to be hard to beat.

Shane Lowry from Esker Hills is another strong runner and it will be interesting to see how newly-crowned West champion, Joe Lyons of Galway, fares when he gets away from the Corrib water again!

This will mark the fifth occasion in which the Irish Amateur Close Championship is staged at Cork Golf Club . . . the most recent was in 1975 when Martin O'Brien of New Ross won the title by overcoming Edmondst's Joe Bryan in the final.

The championship was first held in 1893 at Royal Portrush and has been played each year since, with the exception of the war period.

Former winners include legendary amateur figures such as John Burke, Jimmy Bruen, Cecil Ewing, Joe Carr, Tom Craddock and Garth McGimpsey - plus a plethora of moderns who have gone on to Ryder Cup duty, namely Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Ronan Rafferty and Paul McGinley.

AMEN CORNER EXPLAINING THE RULES:

RULE 24.2 IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTION

Q. What happens when an immovable obstruction interferes with the ball in play?

A. Interference from an immovable obstruction occurs when a ball lies in or on the obstruction, or when the obstruction interferes with a player's stance or area of intended swing.

Interference also occurs on the putting green when the immovable obstruction intervenes with the line of a player's putt.

If the ball is through the green, the player can drop the ball within one club length of the nearest point of relief without incurring a penalty. If the obstruction occurs in the bunker, the player has the option of dropping the ball at the nearest point of relief in the bunker without penalty, or taking a penalty shot and dropping the ball outside the bunker in line with the point of where it originally landed.

If the ball is obstructed on the putting green, it must be dropped without penalty at the nearest point of relief no closer to the hole.

Rules from 2004 R&A Rules of Golf

GOLF TIP OF THE WEEK

Pitching: the lob shot The lob shot is one of the most flamboyant in golf but is also one of the toughest as there is a huge margin for error. The idea is to get plenty of immediate loft so that the ball lands softly on the putting surface.

A strong grip tends to release the club face and negates the club's bounce at impact so weaken your grip on the wedge and slightly open the clubface so that the club will skid under the ball as it moves through impact.

To achieve this weak grip, place your left thumb on top of the shaft or even slightly left of that position when addressing the ball. Play the ball just inside your left heel and set your wrists early.

You want the club shaft to become almost vertical as your hands reach the halfway point in your backswing.

Take a full swing and deccelerate through the ball all the way through your follow-through and this will produce the necessary loft with the minimum of forward momentum.

Golf tip thanks to Emmanuel Riblet, Golf Pro, Premier Golf Santry