Druids Glen Golf Resort, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
Often referred to as “The Augusta of Europe”. The flora and fauna of the Glen provide a colourful backdrop to a magnificent golf course. Design duo Pat Ruddy and Tom Craddock were given the brief to create the best inland course in Ireland, and features many signature holes which provide golfers with a thrilling golf experience amidst a beautifully manicured landscape.

You are now moving into the field of golf course design. What can you tell us about your new course?

It’s under construction at the moment and should be open in April 2007. It is called Macreddin, and is in County Whitlow, about an hours drive South of Dublin.

Do you see designing a course as a ‘one-off’?

It is for the moment. It has been a lot more time consuming than I thought, and also a lot more difficult. But it has been a really great experience and I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ll maybe do more in the future but I just want to see how this one turns out first. All the indications are that it will be great.

Can designing a course be a distraction from playing professional tournament golf?

No, it just eats up a lot of my time, but I wouldn’t call it a distraction. I’ve got three young kids and a wife and I want to spend time with them as well. I spend a lot of time training in the gym, and I want to have my social time and time with the family. So I don’t feel I have enough time in my life to do a whole lot at the moment, but I very much enjoy it and I will certainly do more in the future.

You are the defending champion of the Volvo Masters this year. What did it mean to you to win this tournament?

It came off the back of losing the final of the World Matchplay three weeks earlier so it was very important for me to get that win and finish the season on a high. Valderrama is a course that I’d never played well on in the past but I managed to click everything into place last year. It’s one of our most prestigious events on the tour and one I am very proud to have won.

Is there a secret to conquering Valderrama?

I think keeping your ball on the fairways and keeping your approach shots below the pin is the big secret. The greens are small, so your iron play has to be very accurate.

What would you say has been your most rewarding tournament victory to date?

I think the time I won the World Cup with Padraig Harrington in Ireland in 1997.