Devoured, like so many others, by the Tiger, the over-riding sentiment among the Irish quartet as they tended to their wounds and filed away from the Old Course last evening was one of acute disappointment.

Indeed, it is a measure of the expectation that Ireland's top players place upon themselves these days that a return of three of them finishing in the top 20 - Darren Clarke tied in seventh place, and Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington tied in 20th place - should be perceived as such a poor one. Christy O'Connor Jnr, meanwhile, finished in tied-60th.

For McGinley, it represented a significant move in his attempt to join the elite league of players in next month's world championship event in Akron, Ohio. With the top 12 European players in the Order of Merit after the British Masters in three weeks' time considered eligible to compete in that $5 million event (Clarke and Harrington are already certain to participate), McGinley at least continues to move in the right direction. He is currently 13th in the money list, and the 10th-placed European.

"I don't want to miss out," said McGinley, "and there is an added incentive in that, if I make the field for Akron, I will also get an invite into the US PGA the previous week." That McGinley should be casting his gaze into the future so soon after finishing the Open is an indication of his determination to move up to be with the top division of players. "I'm not that far away. All I need basically is a little bit of luck," he added.

Of the four Irishmen yesterday, McGinley was the only one who managed to keep a bogey off his card in shooting a finishing 70 for six-under-par 282, which - like Harrington - earned him £25,500 sterling in prize money. "My course management was excellent, and I've really enjoyed the whole experience, but I'm not one of the longest hitters around and, on a course like this, I would have needed to hole my share of long putts. That didn't happen."

Harrington's primary problem also concerned his putting, which deserted him midway through his second round on Friday and stubbornly stayed away. "I had three eight-footers in succession from the fourth today and missed them all, which pretty much sums it up," said Harrington, who closed with a 72 for 282 but who averaged 32 putts for the four rounds. "I didn't make enough putts, and that's the bottom line. I just didn't read them right, so it is not something I am going to worry about too much. It is not a problem."

While Clarke, McGinley and Harrington will all compete in this week's Dutch Open, O'Connor - who shot a final round 74 for two-over-par 290 which earned him a cheque for £7,225 - showed his well-being as he heads into the defence of his British Seniors title at Royal Co Down, starting on Thursday.

Once again, putting was his Achilles Heel. "I've had 38, 36 and 37 putts for each of the last three rounds and that kills you around here," he said. "But I have thoroughly enjoyed the week. This is what golf is all about, playing at St Andrews in the Millennium Open. I'm just glad I managed to stay around for all four days." And with a handshake and a smile, he was off. Confirmation that at least one Irishman hadn't been too badly bitten by the Tiger.