Notebook: Tiger and DJ for RCD? Alliss for BBC bow at St Andrews?
Tiger Woods at Royal County Down in 2005. Picture via Belfast Telegraph
Given his battle against the "yips" or whatever mental block is causing him the short game horrors, the rumour mill has begun to whirl once more over a potential appearance by Tiger Woods in May's Irish Open at Royal County Down.
That Dustin Johnson could also make a return to the course where he won the 2007 Walker Cup alongside confirmed Irish Open participant Rickie Fowler is no surprise either, though one wonders why he'd want to be overshadowed by his Puma-clad former team mate, not to mention tournament host Rory McIlroy.
Tiger Woods tackles the Royal County Down rough in 2005. Picture via Royal County Down
That Woods, who played a practice round at Royal County Down in 2005 in preparation for his ultimately successful bid for the 2005 Open at St Andrews, might turn up is not totally outlandish given his friendship with McIlroy.
And yet one wonders if friendship would be enough to prompt the American to waive his usual seven figure appearance fee.
Given his horrific form with the driver and the wedge, the thought of him playing a golf course featuring more blind tee shots and tighter lies than you will find almost anywhere on the planet, makes the mind boggle. All this before be mention his back, his "glutes" and those freezing winds that whistle down from the Mourne Mountains.
Whatever the truth about Woods and Johnson, former World Number One Lee Westwood will be in Newcastle from May 28 to 31.
If Westwood's ISM management group ever revives the British Masters and succeeds in hosting it at Woburn, can we expect Rory McIlroy to make a reciprocal appearance?
Alliss hints at St Andrews swansong
The much-loved BBC golf commentator Peter Alliss has hinted that this year's Open Championship at St Andrews could be his last at the microphone. Given that the event will be moving from terrestrial TV to Sky Sports in 2017 following the R&A's recent decision, we may be without the great man at Royal Troon in 2016.
The 83-year-old hinted at his future during a wide-ranging interview with Joe Molloy on Newstalk's Off The Ball, revealing: "We're coming towards the end of it. The BBC are being out-gunned by Sky and we've got another couple of years to go.
"I haven't made up my mind but I might finish it at St Andrews this year. I don't know but a lot of the big boys have finished there. I might do the same. It depends how the mood takes me."
While the BBC still have the rights to broadcast live coverage of The Open from Royal Troon in 2016, one wonders if they haven't already worked out that 2015 will mark the 60th anniversary of its Open coverage, which began at St Andrews in 1955. Could there be a more fitting spot for the Beeb and Peter Alliss, to say goodbye?
