Legend Des Smyth can give the AIB Irish Seniors Open a massive boost - by winning his first title in America.

As the Champions Tour takes a three-week break, Smyth is at home preparing for a run of tournaments in the States that could shape his whole season.

Smyth needs to win a tournament or finish in the top 31 money winners this season to secure his card for next year.

And the Drogheda man is determined to take the fast track and avoid the agony of the money list by lifting a trophy.

If he can do it soon it will mean a huge bonus for the European Seniors Tour and the ¤310,000 AIB Irish Seniors Open which goes ahead at Adare Manor from 16 - 18 May.

Christy O'Connor Jnr and Denis O'Sullivan will spearhead the Irish challenge but organisers are hopeful that US based Smyth and Eamonn Darcy will also be in the field.

"I haven't said no to the AIB event as of yet," Smyth said. "I'm hopeful of playing but it will depend on what happens in the States. If I can get the result I'm looking for I'd like to come home and play."

Smyth is currently 15th in the Champions Tour money list with $239,913 in the bank and three top ten finishes to his credit from just five events.

But he is frustrated that he has yet to show his best form and gain access to the $2.25 million Legends of Golf later next month - the tournament that started the Senior Tour phenomenon 26 years ago.

"I'm in the first tournament when I get back but for the Legends tournament I have to be in the top 10 on the money list.

"Hopefully I can get up there but it's just one of possibly two tournaments that I might not be qualified for.

"I haven't hit form yet as far as I am concerned - I haven't found my game. I know how lucky I was to get my card to play on this tour but I haven't hit great form yet.

"Yes, I've done pretty well, I came second in my first event and had a fifth and a tenth and two pretty average weeks as well.

"But you have to play your 'A' game over there and I've been a bit hit and miss. The standard is high but I know if I can play my best game I'll compete well."

Without a full card, Darcy just missed out on his card for the megabucks US tour and has only managed to get into one event so far - finishing second.

"The key is having access," Smyth explained. "Eamonn only just missed his card - but I can assure you, he is no different from lots of other people.

"People in Ireland are saying that it's tough on Eamonn but believe me when I tell you that there are guys are in the exact same position over there."

Smyth has no doubt that his compatriot can do the business and earn enough to win a card from limited appearances. But he also has plenty of belief in his own ability.

"Eamonn nearly pulled it off in is first event," he said. "One shot less and he would have got a full year exemption. If he plays his 'A' game he'll win and I feel the same way myself. But it means playing my very best golf.

"I want to secure my card and I have two options. The first one is to play well all year and make enough money but the other way is to get a win and that's what I'm after."

Having played tournaments in Florida, Mexico and California as well as two transatlantic trips in the space of a month, Smyth knows that it will be a tough season.

"The distances are longer than I'm used to," he admitted. "Getting over and back from America hasn't been easy. Mexico one week and then LA the next. I've only been out there five weeks and I'm going into the bulk of the season now, which is very much non-stop.

"It's enjoyable. It's a good tour and they all seem to work very hard. The rewards are there for good performances."

But Smyth was unable to take part in the final Links Golf Society outing of the year at Royal Dublin in midweek.

"I had to go to the American embassy to get my permanent work visa," he explained.
"I was allowed to use the waiver system for a short time until I got my permanent visa but now that that's out of the way I'm more relaxed."

As for the legendary hostility of American players to foreign raiders on the Seniors Tour, Smyth has no negatives to report.

"I wouldn't go as far as to say they have welcomed me with open arms. The good things is I went to the school and got my card and as a result of that I am well accepted," he said. "If you play well you'll do well. If you don't do that you will be back at the school."

Smyth's toughest examination is just around the corner.

Royal Dublin's Open ambitions
Classic links Royal Dublin could host the Irish Open once again.

The famous Bull Island club is currently in the middle of a ¤1.5 million renovation that will see it regain its place amongst the top courses in the country.

The course last hosted the event from 1983 to 1985, with Seve Ballesteros winning twice in a golden era.

But changes to the course by top golf course architect Martin Hawtree will bring it into the Irish Open reckoning for the seventh time in its history.

Portmarnock will host the Nissan Irish Open this season with an option for 2004 but Royal Dublin are not ruling themselves out of the running in the future.

"I think in the future we would hope to have a course that would be considered for the Irish Open," said club captain Bill Wallace.

"Martin Hawtree wants to intensify the links feeling of Royal Dublin. Essentially we wanted to update the course which had fallen a little behind the architecture of the day."

The par three ninth hole was completely redesigned as a test and will be back in play in time for the Irish Amateur Open in May.

The plan is go ahead and make changes to every hole on the course over the next three or four years.

"We will do six more holes from September to March next year which will complete the original phase," explained Wallace. "Then we have to think about what we want to do."

Most of the changes will involve adding humps and hollows to the fairways as well as raising the levels of greens to reduce the risks of flooding.

The fourth green will be moved back and left while the 14th green will be moved 20 metres back.

I love US - Padraig
Padraig Harrington began a three-week stint in the States this week and admitted - I love it over here.

The Dubliner might be chasing the Volvo Order of Merit, but he is making no apologies for playing 13 events in the US this year.

Apart from this week's Players Championship, Harrington will continue his preparations for the Masters with an appearance at the BellSouth Classic next week.

"Personally like the way that the likes of Ernie Els combines a number of tours in his schedule and with the game becoming more global," said Harrington. "I have no plans to commit myself to any new tour. I'm a European Tour player and proud of it.

"But people keep asking me about travelling to America with all that is going on in the world at the moment but I just hope everything is sorted out as soon as possible.

"I always get great support when I play in the States and have a rapport with the fans that other European players would love, so roll on peace and we can all get back to following our sporting heroes!"

Walker glory
It's official - the Walker Cup really is the key to golfing success.

A study has revealed that Walker Cup players who turned professional are more successful than those never made the team

Of the 66 Great Britain and Ireland players who finished in the top 150 on the 2002 Volvo Order of Merit, the 23 who played at Walker Cup level did the best.

The only two players to have competed in more than one Walker Cup came out at the very top of the heap.

Padraig Harrington played three times and seven-time Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie played twice.

The 23 Walker Cup players fared better than any other group at the PGA European Tour's annual six-round qualifying school, needing a total of 53 visits, or an average of 2.3 each, to secure their cards.

According to the Success Group International the 14 players who represented England, Scotland, Ireland or Wales at senior level, but did not make it into the Walker Cup, paid a total of 149 visits to the school, or 3.5 per player.

Tricia
Amateur star Tricia Mangan is set to take on the top Ladies European Tour professionals next month.

The Ennis talent has made the Ladies' Golf Union Elite squad to face a team of 14 professionals in the Weetabix Challenge at Royal Birkdale on 12 April.

(Sherry)

Ireland's big four will be in hoping to make a charge for the Sherry Cup in Spain next week.

Walker Cup panellists Noel Fox, Justin Kehoe, Colm Moriarty and Andrew McCormick will all be in Sotogrande on Wednesday for one of amateur golf's top events.

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© Brian Keogh 2003

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