Golf: Daly brings lustre to limited field

THE PRESENCE of John Daly, the former US PGA champion, in the Spanish capital adds lustre to the Iberia Madrid Open at the Puerta de Hierro Club which takes place from today until Sunday.

The tournament lacks not only the home golfers, Seve Ballesteros and Jose-Maria Olazabal, but also Ian Woosnam and the top two Europeans this season, Nick Faldo and Bernhard Langer.

Faldo is in Japan this week, but returns for next week's Volvo Masters, where he has only to tee off to collect a pounds 110,000 bonus for winning the Order of Merit. However, the third and fourth-placed Anders Forsbrand and Barry Lane, will be competing here for the pounds 66,660 first prize and a chance to move up the table.

Lane, winner of the German Masters earlier this month, said: 'If I can get to second in the final table, that should get me into the US Masters next April.'

Other players are lined up for a different reason - trying to avoid a trip to next month's qualifying school. Luton's Tony Charnley, for example, is one such player aiming to secure one of the 120 tour cards on offer.

The 37-year-old has never had to go to the school since he turned professional in 1974, but with just under pounds 18,500 to his name this season lies only 155th.

'I've got to finish in the top five to have a chance. It's been a pretty depressing time,' he said. 'But I've started playing better recently and all I can do is try my best.'

The field also includes Jamie Spence and Steve Richardson, who last Sunday collected pounds 100,000 for England's victory in the Dunhill Cup, and the leading Scots, Sandy Lyle and Colin Montgomerie. The defending champion is the English player, Andrew Sherborne.

--------------------------------------------------------------------- CARD OF THE COURSE --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hole Yards Par Hole Yards Par 1st 193 3 10th 422 4 2nd 569 5 11th 217 3 3rd 423 4 12th 459 4 4th 411 4 13th 309 4 5th 530 5 14th 470 4 6th 179 3 15th 501 5 7th 385 4 16th 392 4 8th 300 4 17th 174 3 9th 434 4 18th 605 5 Out: 3,424 36 In: 3,549 36 Total: 6,973 72 ---------------------------------------------------------------------