CHAMPIONS TOUR: Des Smyth is joined this week on the US Champions Tour by two of his celebrated compatriots Christy O'Connor Jnr and Eamonn Darcy.
Smyth, who picked up $128,000 on his debut seniors event last week, arrives at the TPC Club in Tampa, Florida, for the Verizon Classic and to compete with a host of other top golfing names.
Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Ben Crenshaw, Gary Player, Hale Irwin, Tom Kite and Tom Watson are all in the star-studded field chasing a prize fund of $1.6 million with $240, 000 going to the winner.
Doug Tewell currently holds the title having shot 67, 67, 69 last year for a 203 total over the 6,638-yard course - it was just three shots below the course record. It is also the first time that the three Irish players have lined out in the same seniors event.
O'Connor, though, has happy memories of the course. In February 2001 he finished tied for sixth at the Classic but then missed the rest of the season after he broke his ankle when his motorcycle fell on him.
O'Connor finished fifth on the European Seniors Tour last season.
The Baltray golfer Smyth, however, appears to be simply continuing to mine a rich vein of form.
The debutante became the first European to win the US Champions (Seniors) Tour Qualifying Tournament before last week's tilt at the title.
The event begins today and continues until Sunday.
