Denis O'Sullivan heads for the US tomorrow in an attempt to join the Seniors' Tour there. And the 52-year-old Corkman could hardly be in more confident mood, having gained a second successive tournament victory in Europe last weekend.
Ironically, O'Sullivan made the decision to enter for the US Seniors' Qualifying School six weeks ago when he wasn't playing particularly well. "I told nobody, because I thought they'd laugh at me," he said. Not now.
Victory in the Abu Dhabi Seniors Tour Championship meant that he ended the European season with £91,259 for third place in the money list. As it happened, such earnings would have comfortably guaranteed exempt status on the regular tour next season for Eamonn Darcy and Gary Murphy.
Instead, they finished side by side in the Order of Merit, some way short of the target figure. Murphy, who earned £51,751 for 136th place, will be going back to the Tour School where he finished fifth last November, while Darcy (£51,692 for 137th) will be trusting to sponsors' invitations next season. Meanwhile, O'Sullivan is looking to the future with admirable pragmatism. "I'm going to the US Tour School mainly because I don't want to find myself at 60 regretting that I hadn't given myself the chance," he said. "But I know it is going to be very tough."
His first assignment is a sectional pre-qualifying tournament in Florida next week, at Marsh Creek, St Augustine. There are six such events in all and he expects only 10 out of a field of 150 to go forward from his particular one to the school proper.
One of the bonuses of his recent successes, however, is that he will be exempt for the next two years on the European Seniors' Tour while his Order of Merit position gives him an exemption into next season's USPGA Seniors' Championship. But his greatest delight came from circumstances a lot nearer home.
"Winning at Buckinghamsire the weekend before last was really special for the fact that it happened to coincide with Padraig Harrington's victory in Madrid," he said. "I have always admired Padraig and the occasion was made all the more special by the number of Irish people who were at my event to celebrate an Irish double."
Of his £91,259 in official money this year, O'Sullivan reckons that as much as £40,000 went in expenses. But he still considers the European Seniors to be a realistic career option, especially with the tournament schedule being increased from 20 to 24 events next year.
"I've been able to make a living by doing part-time work for the Leasing Company of Ireland, on a commission basis," he said. "But the way the tour is growing, I see a great future out there, especially if I could get a reasonable sponsorship deal."
Right now, there are probably a lot of former amateur rivals thinking that they could easily match O'Sullivan's success. But they should think again. By his own estimation, he is now playing comfortably to a plus-three handicap, whereas he was plus-one when he quit amateur ranks as the Irish Close Champion of 1985 and East of Ireland champion of 1990.
"The biggest difference is in my chipping and putting, which I made a point of concentrating on this year," he said. "In that regard, I have found the book on putting by Dave Pelz to be a tremendous help. But I am also controlling the ball better than I ever did, especially where distance is concerned."
O'Sullivan was always a fine player and a keen student of the game. In 1998, his debut season as a professional, he was ninth in the money list with earnings of £54,990, but he slipped to 33rd place last year for £23,284. Now, with two victories to his credit, there is no question but that he is heading in the right direction.
There will be four Irish challengers - Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley and Ronan Rafferty - in the limited-field £2 million Volvo Masters starting at Montecastillo on Thursday.
Irish positions in the Order of Merit: 2, D Clarke £1,139,125; 8, P Harrington £649,529; 16, P McGinley £405,122; 112, D Smyth £77,559; 136, G Murphy £51,751; 137, E Darcy £51,692; 160, P Walton £27,530; 194, R Rafferty £14,023.
