Irish Golf Fixtures 2003

Padraig Harrington's nine-week break will see him miss the first six events of the 2003 season on the European Tour International schedule.

Harrington will almost certainly tee off his campaign at the Carlsberg Malaysia Open in late February before beginning his quest for a Major.

But according to two time Masters champion Jose Marie Olazabal, the Dubliner is closer than ever to winning one of golf's biggest prizes.

He said: "Harrington is one of those players who is very close to that level now. The younger generation is starting to close the gap

"There is Sergio Garcia too, but if Harrington can just improve a tiny bit on this year's performance he can win a Major very soon."

Harrington's first chance will come in the US Masters at Augusta National from April 10-13.

The event is certain to be troubled by women's groups protesting against the Georgia club's men only policy.

After the US Open at Olympia Fields in Illinois from June 12-15 and the Smurfit European Open European Open at the K Club, Harrington will seek the Claret Jug in the British Open at Sandwich in Kent from July 17-20.

The last week in July is a busy one in Irish golf with the Nissan Irish Open at Portmarnock, the South of Ireland Amateur championship at Lahinch and the Vagliano Trophy clash between Britain and Ireland and Continental Europe at Co Louth.

The Walker Cup match will be played at Ganton in England from September 6 - 7 and Ireland's Noel Fox, Colm Moriarty and Justin Kehoe will be hoping for a call up to a GB and I side that will be seeking a hat trick of wins.

The Home Internationals at Ballybunion from September 17 - 19 will be another huge event on the men's calendar which will also boast the Smurfit Irish Professional Championship and the possible return of the Seve Ballesteros Trophy.

GOLF 2003

European Tour 2003

Jan 9-12 - South African Airways Open, Erinvale, Cape Town - Trevor Immelman
Jan 16-19 - dunhill championship, Houghton, Johannesburg -
Jan 23-26 - Caltex Masters, Laguna, Singapore -
Jan 30-Feb 2 - Heineken Classic, Royal Melbourne, Australia - Ernie Els

Feb 6-9 - ANZ Championship, New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Feb 13-16 - Johnnie Walker Classic, Lake Karrinyup, Perth, Australia
Feb 20-23 - Carlsberg Malaysian Open, The Mines, Kuala Lumpur
Feb 26-Mar 2 - WGC-Accenture Match Play, La Costa, Carlsbad, California

Mar 6-9 - Dubai Desert Classic, Emirates, Dubai
Mar 13-16 - Qatar Masters, Doha, Qatar
Mar 20-23 - Madeira Island Open, Santo de Serra, Madeira

APR 10-13 - MASTERS, AUGUSTA NATIONAL, GEORGIA
Apr 17-20 - Algarve Portuguese Open, Vale do Lobo
Apr 24-27 - Canaries Spanish Open, venue to be announced

May 1-4 - Italian Open Telecom Italia, tba
May 8-11 - Benson and Hedges International Open, The Belfry
May 15-18 - Deutsche Bank-SAP Open TPC of Europe, Gut Kaden, Hamburg
May 22-25 - Volvo PGA championship, Wentworth
May 29-Jun 1 - Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open, Celtic Manor, Newport

June 5-8 - British Masters, Marriott Forest of Arden, Coventry
JUNE 12-15 - US OPEN, OLYMPIA FIELDS, ILLINOIS
Jun 12-15 - Aa St Omer Open, Aa St Omer, France
Jun 19-22 - Diageo Championship, Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire
Jun 26-29 - French Open, Le Golf National, Paris

Jul 3-6 - Smurfit European Open, K Club
Jul 10-13 - Barclays Scottish Open, Loch Lomond
JUL 17-20 - OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, ROYAL ST GEORGE'S, SANDWICH, KENT
Jul 24-27 - Nissan Irish Open, Portmarnock
Jul 31-Aug 3 - Scandinavian Masters, Barseback, Malmo, Sweden

Aug 7-10 - Nordic Open, Simon's, Copenhagen, Denmark
AUG 14-17 - US PGA CHAMPIONSHIP, OAK HILL, ROCHESTER, NEW YORK
Aug 14-17 - BMW Russian Open, Le Meriden Moscow
Aug 21-24 - WGC-NEC Invitational, Firestone, Akron, Ohio
Aug 28-31 - BMW International Open, Munchen Nord-Eichenried, Munich

Sep 4-7 - Omega European Masters, Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland
Sep 11-14 - Lancome Trophy, St-Nom-la-Breteche, Paris
Sep 18-21 - Linde German Masters, Gut Larchenhof, Cologne
Sep 25-28 - Dunhill links championship, St Andrews, Carnoustie, Kingsbarns

Oct 2-5 - WGC-American Express championship, Capitol City, Atlanta
Oct 9-12 - Dutch Open, Hilversum
Oct 16-19 - Cisco World Match Play, Wentworth
Oct 16-19 - Turespana Mallorca Classic, Pula, Majorca
Oct 23-26 - Telefonica Madrid Open, Club de Campo, Madrid
Oct 30-Nov 2 - Volvo Masters Andalucia, Valderrama, Spain
Nov 13-16 - WGC-EMC World Cup, Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Amateur golf
Men's fixtures 2003

Feb 15 ­ 22 National Youths Panel Training Spain

Mar 22 ­ 29 National Panel Training Portugal

April 4 - 6 Munster Youths' Amateur Open Championship Killarney (Lackabane)
April 2 - 5 Sherry Cup (team event) Sotogrande
April 11 - 13 Connacht Youths' Amateur Open Championship Connemara
April 18 - 22 West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship Co. Sligo
April 23 - 24 Ireland Boys v Wales Boys (Rosslare)
April 25 Wales Youths v Ireland Youths Ashburnham
April 26 ­ 27 Trubshaw Cup Tenby/ Ashburnham

May 2 - 4 Lytham Trophy Royal Lytham
May 9 - 11 Irish Amateur Open Championship, Royal Dublin
May 16 - 18 Brabazon Trophy Hunstanton
May 20 - 21 Munster Seniors Amateur Open Championship Ballybunion (2 courses)
May 23 - 25 St. Andrews Links Trophy St. Andrews
May 31 ­

June 2 East of Ireland Amateur Open Championship, Co. Louth
June 2-7 Amateur Championship Royal Troon
June 5-6 Irish Seniors' Amateur Open Championship Mullingar
June 5 - 7 European Mid Amateur Mosjo GC, Sweden
June 7 - 8 Berkshire Trophy The Berkshire
June 8 Ulster Foursomes Open Championship Malone
June 9 - 10 Leinster Youths' Amateur Open Championship The Island
June 12 - 14 European Seniors' Championship & Nations Cup Chantaco, France
June 14-18 Irish Amateur Close Championship, Tramore
June 17 - 18 Connacht Seniors' Amateur Open Championship Castlebar
June 18 Munster Under 15 Boys Open Championship Adare Manor
June 25 Connacht Under 15 Open Championship Strandhill
June 25 Ireland .v. Scotland Youths' Match Douglas
June 26-27 Irish Youths' Amateur Open Championship Douglas

July 1-4 Ulster Boys' Amateur Open Championship Donaghadee
July 1 - 5 European Amateur Team Championship Ryl Hague GC, Holland
July 3 ­ 6 Smurfit European Open K Club
July 8-10 Connacht Boys' Amateur Open Championship Oughterard
July 8 - 12 European Boys' Team Championship Karlovy Vary GC,
Czech Republic
July 14-18 North of Ireland Amateur Open Championship, Royal Portrush
July 15 Leinster Under 15 Boys Open Championship Beaverstown
July 16-18 Munster Boys' Amateur Open Championship Tipperary
July 17-20 Open Championship Royal St. George's
July 22-24 Leinster Boys' Amateur Open Championship Malahide
July 24 - 26 European Young Masters Augsburg GC, Germany
July 24 ­ 27 Nissan Irish Open, Portmarnock
July 26-30 South of Ireland Amateur Open Championship Lahinch

Aug Ulster Under 15 Open Championship Shandon Park
Aug 5 - 7 Boys' Home Internationals Royal St. David's
Aug 6 - 8 Ulster Youths Amateur Open Championship Royal Co Down
Aug 6 - 8 British Seniors' Amateur Championship Blairgowrie
Aug 11 - 16 British Boys' Championship Royal Liverpool
Aug 13-15 Interprovincial Championship Ballybunion
Aug 13-17 British Mid Amateur Championship Jubilee Course St. Andrews
Aug 18 Junior Foursomes (National Final) Lucan
Aug 19 Fred Daly (National Final) Lucan
Aug 19 - 20 Connacht Veterans' (over 65) Tuam
Aug 20-22 Irish Boys Amateur Close Championship Hermitage
Aug 20 - 23 European Mens' Individual Championship Nairn, Scotland
Aug 21 -22 Ulster Seniors' Amateur Open Championship Bangor
Aug 25 Club Youths (National Final) Portumna
Aug 25 Under 15 County Championship Final Portumna
Aug 25 Irish Schools (National Final - Strokeplay) Portumna
Aug 26 Irish Schools (National Final - Matchplay) Portumna
Aug 27-29 Boys' Interprovincial Championship Portumna
Aug 29-30 Jacques Leglise Trophy Lahinch

Sep 1 - 2 Leinster Seniors' Amateur Open Championship Woodenbridge
Sep 4-5 Irish Mixed Foursomes (National Final) Galway
Sep 6 - 7 Walker Cup, Ganton
Sep 11-13 Cups & Shields (National Finals) Lisburn
Sep 17 - 19 Home Internationals Ballybunion
Sep 23 ­ 26 PQ1 (Stage One) TBA
Sep 24 -26 Youth Interprovincial Championship Lahinch
Sep 30 ­ Oct 2 Seniors Home Internationals Seaton Carew

Oct 3 All Ireland Medal TBA
Oct 4 - 5 East of Ireland Open Mixed Foursomes Championship Luttrellstown
Oct 7 ­ 9 MGA v GUI Quaker Ridge
Oct 30­Nov 2 PQ2 (Stage Two) TBA
Oct 30­Nov 2 European Club Cup Trophy National GC, Turkey

Irish Ladies' Golf Union - Fixtures 2003

March 30 Scratch Cup, Royal Co Down Ladies'

April 5 Scratch Cup, Cork
April 15-17 Munster Ladies' Championships, Waterville
April 23-25 Girls' Interprovincial Matches, Warrenpoint
April 26-27 Helen Holm Scottish Open Stroke Play, Portland & Royal Troon
April 28-30 Leinster Junior Championship, Old Conna

May 4 Scratch Cup, Hermitage
May 5 Irish Schools' Championship Final, Milltown
May 9-10 Suzuki Senior Cup Qualifying (Eastern)Malahide
May 5-7 Suzuki Senior Cup Qualifying (Southern)Castletroy
May 6-8 Ulster Open Ladies Championship Bangor
May 18 Scratch Cup Lahinch
May 22-24 Midland District Championship The Heath
May 26 LGU Silver & Bronze Medal Finals Westmanstown/Lucan
May 26-27 Suzuki Senior Cup Qualifying (Ulster) Spa
May 28-30 Leinster Ladies Championship Glen Of The Downs
May 31 ­ June 1 St. Rule Trophy St. Andrews

June 2 ILGU Prizes (Northern District) Strabane
June 10-12 Connacht Ladies Championship Co. Sligo
June 10-14 Ladies' British Open Amateur C'ship Lindrick
June 13-14 Suzuki Senior Cup Qualifying (Midland)Birr
June 24-28 Lancôme Irish Ladies Close C'ship Donegal
June 27 ­ 29 Welsh Ladies Open Stroke Play C'ship Southerndown TBC Irish Intermediate Open Stroke Play (TBC)

July 4-5 Suzuki Senior Cup Qualifying (Connacht)Westport
July 4-6 Ladies' British Open Mid-Amateur C'ship Royal Liverpool
July 7-9 Leinster Girls Championship Seapoint
July 8-12 Ladies European Team Championship Wittelsbasher, Germany
July 15-18 Lancôme Irish Girls Close C'shipardee
July 16-18 Lancôme Irish Intermediate Close Ardee
July 19-20 Suzuki Irish Ladies Open Stroke Play Rathsallagh
July 25-26 Vagliano Trophy Co. Louth
July 28 May Fitzgibbon Foursomes Final Greystones
July 28 ILGU Prizes (Midland District) New Ross / Mountrath
July 28 Leinster Seniors Championship Clontarf
July 31- Aug 3 Weetabix Women's British Open Royal Lytham St Annes

Aug 5-9 Girls British Open Amateur C'ship Newport
Aug 6-8 Ladies' Interprovincial Matches Galway
Aug 7 ILGU Prizes (Northern District) Carnalea
Aug 11 LGU Challenge Bowls Moate
Aug 11 ILGU Prizes (Eastern District) Edmondstown/Beaverstown
Aug 12-14 Girls Home International Matches Pyle & Kenfig
Aug 14 ILGU Prizes (Western District) Ballina / Athlone
Aug 18 Smurfit Interclub Lucan
Aug 20-22 British Open Amateur Stroke Play Royal Portrush
Aug 25 ILGU Prizes (All Ireland Final) Gort
August 27-30 European Ladies Individual C'ship Shannon

Sept 1 Australian Spoons Newcastle West
Sept 5-6 Suzuki Senior Cup All Ireland Final Blainroe
Sept 10-12 Ladies Home International Matchescruden Bay
Sept 17-18 Irish Senior Ladies Open Amateur C'ship Seapoint
Sept 23-25 Senior Ladies' British Open Amateur C'ship South Staffs

Oct 1-3 Senior Home Internationals Whittington Heath

Nov 4-8 Commonwealth Tournament Remeura Gc, New Zealand
TBC Ulster Bank All Ireland Medal Finals TBC
TBC Ulster Bank All Ireland Fourball C'ship TBC

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© Brian Keogh 2003

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