On top of that, I hit the driver straight down the middle, which was a good start, and I won the tournament, which made it even more special.”Everything has happened in such a short space of time that it is hard to comprehend,” he continued “I’m surprised I’ve played so well but it’s thrilling It’s brought out a side you never thought you had You think you can’t stop winning. Right now I feel I can win anything that I play in.”Next year, there will be no let up for the 41-year-old. While Tiger Woods was getting married beside the waters of the Caribbean, beside the slightly chillier waters of the North Sea here the two best golfers in the world will be contesting the Dunhill Links Championship. As magnificent as the West Beach is, it is not the time of year to be tying the knot on the sand that once provided the opening scenes for Chariots Of Fire.
Fortunately, that is not the concern of either Vijay Singh, the newly appointed world No 1, or Ernie Els, the winner of last week’s World Championship event in Ireland.This is their first meeting since Singh took over from Woods as the best player in the world.

However swimmingly things are going for Tiger at the moment, off the course, at least, life has been pretty perfect for Singh while he has been winning. The Fijian has won the two tournaments he has played in since inheriting Tiger’s mantle, and five of the last six in all, including the USPGA Championship, his third major. He said it had been a joke aimed at psyching up Reyes.The Spain boss is alleged to have referred to Henry using racist language and told Reyes that he was the better player of the two. The comments from Aragones were captured by cameras from TV station Antenna 3 and broadcast in their afternoon news slot as well as being repeated, although in some cases with the insults edited out, on several sporting websites.Reyes, however, tried to dismiss the incident, saying Aragones’ words were not to be taken seriously.”I know when he is joking and when he isn’t. However, he will travel with the squad today.Ireland have sold 19,000 tickets for the fixture but expect to take 35,000 fans to Paris.* The Toulouse midfielder Daniel Moreira has replaced Barcelona’s Ludovic Giuly, who has a thigh injury, in France’s squad for Saturday and the trip to Cyprus on Wednesday.. Spain coach Luis Aragones has caused a media storm after allegedly making racist remarks about Arsenal striker Thierry Henry. “If I do get a chance I can impress from there and hopefully get my career back on track internationally,” Dunne said.The only other Irish concern – amid French disarray – is goalkeeper Shay Given, whose wife is about to give birth.

It is 11 months since he last played for his country and he was – to his public anger – omitted from the last squad. “If you ask any footballer, they will say it’s tough to be left out,” Dunne said yesterday.Ireland’s manager Brian Kerr, to his credit, did not hold last month’s outburst against the player who was, however, unlikely to oust Andy O’Brien.Dunne is Ireland’s only absentee because of injury and he will miss Saturday’s game and probably next Wednesday’s qualifier at home to the Faroe Islands. “I know he has the reputation of being very temperamental, but he is a quality player and he would cause a threat to any defence,” Dunne said.Whether a fit Dunne would have been in that Irish defence is another matter. It’s still a way off, but his recent comments are encouraging. It’s a big change to what was being said a couple of years back, so it’s good he has confidence in me and I’m part of his team. I just felt previously my past was always being dragged up no matter what, but I’m getting good publicity now and I’d like to keep it that way.”Dunne is not the only City player with a reputation and despite David Trezeguet becoming the latest withdrawal from the France squad, their coach Raymond Domenech has continued the exile of Nicolas Anelka.

It’s difficult for anyone to mark him.”Nevertheless, Dunne coped better than most when City played Arsenal recently, preventing Henry from scoring, even if the champions still won. That performance, and others like it, are likely to earn Dunne a new contract at City – less than two years after it looked like his career there was over when he was disciplined by manager Kevin Keegan for arriving at training smelling of alcohol.Dunne, who admits he has turned his life around, explained: “He [Keegan] said last year if I was still in the team and playing they would start talking about a new contract this December or January. Even if you go tight he can just knock it over your head and you won’t be able to catch him. Once he then gets a chance on goal, nine times out of 10 he will hit the target He is a difficult one to mark and the best I’ve faced. He has so much ability, a bit of everything everyone else has. He seems to have it all – the whole package.”The only chance of stopping Henry, Dunne said, is to get “help”.