The Top 50 in the World Rankings are joined by the Top players from each of the six member tours that go to make up the International Federation of PGA Tours, the management of what is a very exclusive club that the players enjoy, in this the Amex World Championship event. It moves from course to course, and to different countries, unlike the Accenture World Matchplay and the NEC Invitational, and has returned to Mount Juliet for a second time for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, any golfing event of this calibre will attract tens of thousands of spectators. Part of why Majors are major is that they bring people to watch the game ‘live’, the best courses, the best players and the history. With World Championship golf, the best come because they know they are going to take on the best, the rewards are substantial, and they are going to be put under playing tension with crowds 10 deep for those who vie for the title and a regular welcome to tees and greens for players who don’t quite perform on the week – appreciation is special.

The second reason why the American Express is back at Mount Juliet is the course itself, notably the condition of a modern championship course that has ‘Nicklaus’ stamped on it as course designer. This means a mix of tradition and innovation and courtesy of Aidan O’Hara, Chief Superintendent of the course, and his staff, a set of greens and an overall presentation which is the envy of everyone.

A certain Mr T Woods, winner in 2002 at Mount Juliet, was fulsome in his praise of the set-up and greens which were the best to putt on. Tiger had to shoot (had being the proverbial word) 26 under par, figures which will not be reached this time as the Amex is a couple of weeks later that 2002, and could only do so by have the utmost confidence in the greens – the winner this week will be a great putter, at least over four days in County Kilkenny!

The rough is up but Nicklaus leaves reasonable landing areas on his courses. The trouble is making sure you are on the right side of the fairway for the shot to the pin. Find the wrong part of one of these greens and you will need to be related to Harry Houdini to make a two putt.

This will be the first chance for certain players from both Ryder Cup teams to give their more considered opinions on the week in Detroit and first up were Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood and Paul McGinley.

Clarke had not managed to drown the ‘flu he picked up on that fateful Sunday and for those thinking that he (and others) had been ‘putting their feet up’ and basking in the win, Clarke was able to provide his diary for the past week –

‘Thursday I was doing a golf day at the Grove, then Friday I was doing a Charity day at Queenwood. Friday evening after Dublin I did my foundation with the kids all weekend and then the 25th anniversary (of Taylormade) at Druids Glen yesterday.’

As for the affects of the week –

‘It’s a long difficult week, but you are trying to focus and work for your team mates and certainly the week after you feel tired – I don’t know how the guys managed to go and play last week.’

Paul McGinley had found time to reflect and had walked his dog as relaxation, without people stopping the McGinley hound to talk to its owner, not that Paul would ever turn any well-wisher away –

‘ They weren’t stopping me but there were a lot of second glances. If people want to talk about it, I’m happy. Everyone was so happy for the Ryder Cup and I’m happy to share that with anybody,

‘I’ll never turn my back on anyone. I want them to feel part of the success too. That’s what is important about the Ryder Cup. We have the bonding that went into the team but there are also the fans and supporters and the people at home. That’s what makes it so special.’

It was also important for McGinley to have made a second Ryder Cup appearance –

‘I can draw a line under the first one – it was magnificent to hole the winning putt but in terms of my career, I think it was important that I made the second team and wasn’t just the guy who came in, did his bit and then sort of faded away.’

Lee Westwood was pressed on the pressures from the Ryder Cup week and how they relate to possibly winning a Major – and he was asked about when he led the Masters with nine holes to go –

‘I was fairly nervous (very jokingly) – Hopefully I won’t make the same mistakes again – what were they? – bogeying 10, doubling 11 and bogeying 12 were not a great run with me leading the tournament – I just didn’t have a game plan and stick to it, which is what you really should be doing.’

The chances are that Westwood does have a game plan for this week, along with the many other players who know this course well and understand what it will take to win … who will it