In golf, probably more than in any other sport, the Seniors (over 50s) competitive environment has blossomed. And further evidence of this growth is provided with the inaugural quadrangular Seniors Internationals - featuring Ireland, England, Wales and Sweden - which commence at Portmarnock Golf Club today and conclude on Thursday.

Irish captain Paddy Murphy, who was last year's President of the Golfing Union of Ireland, has opted to use all seven members of his team for the opening match against Sweden, with just two of them - Hugh McKinney and Peter Cowley - required to play both foursomes and singles.

Although home advantage, particularly on a links like Portmarnock, should work in the Irish team's favour, it is worth noting that for one member of the Swedish team, Jan Sternberg, it represents a competitive return to the north county Dublin links as he played in a tournament here some 30 years ago.

While England - with Roy Smethurst, the English seniors champion for the past two years, and playing captain David Lane, a former holder of the British seniors and current Scottish seniors open champion - will start as favourites, there is a belief that the Irish team could managed to claim this inaugural title.

Earlier this year, a three-man Irish team of McKinney, Cowley and David Noonan won the European Seniors Nations Cup in Spain and, with the trio in action this week, Ireland are expected to emerge as England's closest challengers.