Wednesday, May 17 2006 16:07 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kildare: The race for European Ryder Cup points hots up in County Kildare Thursday when the Nissan Irish Open takes place at Carton House.

The tournament was moved forward in the calendar this year to coincide with major tournaments in Britain and the ploy has had the desired effect.

One of the best fields in the history of the event will compete for the highest ever prize fund of 2.2 million euros. In the Ryder Cup battle, prizes mean points and many of the players will have European team captain Ian Woosnam's recent call for the heavyweights to start pulling their weight ringing in their ears.

When the little Welshman selects his team for the visit of the United States to the K Club down the road from Carton House, he is looking for in-form players not one pinning their hopes on their reputations.

And that means Irish players in particular will be expected to rise to the occasion and thereby up the Ryder Cup points table.

It has been 26 years since John O'Leary last gave the Irish Open a home win, so Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke should not lack for motivation.

All three are in the field, but only McGinley has the yellow jersey in site.

Among the British, Paul Casey and Lee Westwood need to get a move on if they are to retain their places in the team that beat the Americans on foreign soil the last time.

Casey will also want to rid himself of any nagging demons after his last round collapse in the British Masters last week.

Another from the class of 2004 needing to push on is David Howell who lost out here last year in a sudden-death play-off with Stephen Dodd who will also be back to defend his title.

Two players with lesser worries are course designer Colin Montgomerie and US Open champion Michael Campbell.

Monty is vying for top spot on the Ryder Cup points table with Henrik Stenson, who will also be turning up in Kildare.

And Campbell has fond memories of the Irish Open, having ended his wilderness years with a win in 2003.

With plenty of talent and plenty of motivation, the Irish Open should keep the Ryder Cup race bubbling along but punters beware.

This tournament has had a habit of throwing up unlikely winners in recent years.

Brett Rumford was a virtual unknown when he won in 2004; Soren Hansen claimed his first tour victory in 2002 and an 18-year-old Sergio Garcia was the youngest ever winner in 1999.

But then again, some Ryder Cup greats have also found the crock o' gold. Former captains, Bernhard Langer, Sam Torrance, Seve Ballesteros and Mark James among them. Watch out for Woosie.