Des Smyth attempted to bring into focus the various strands of an extraordinary season, a truly vintage year. "I can still deliver a performance of high quality," he said, "but I can no longer do it as often as the young guys".

Things began to happen for the man from Mornington off the coast of Africa last March, when he enjoyed a rather special St Patrick's Day celebration, 24 hours late. With a final round of 66 for an 18-under-par total of 270 at Santo da Serra, Smyth gained a two-stroke victory over England's John Bickerton in the Madeira Island Open.

It came 34 days after his 48th birthday, which meant that he eclipsed the achievement of the previous oldest winner in the history of the European Tour. Neil Coles was 48 years, 12 days when winning the Sanyo Open in 1982.

"I'm absolutely ecstatic," said Smyth, after collecting a relatively modest top prize of £58,000 sterling. "Though I had seven previous victories, apart from playing twice in the Ryder Cup, this is like an elusive dream when you haven't won for so long."

Four months later, on the hallowed turf of Royal Lytham, people were showering congratulations once more on the man who, quite simply, loves to play golf. This time, the performance brought a quieter response of profound satisfaction.

"I can still play," he said, after a closing round of 71 in the British Open had secured him a share of 13th place on 280 for a reward of £40,063 sterling and exemption into next year's championship at Muirfield.

Now, five months past his 48th birthday, he had come through final qualifying with a course-record 64 on St Anne's Old Links and carded a best-of-the-day 65 in the second round of the championship proper in the second round.

"I'm thrilled - there are great memories in this," he went on, as his wife Vicki, son Shane and close friend, John Gleeson of Milltown GC, stood closeby. "I've done everything I set out to do."

His assessment of still being able to play the game was viewed as a serious under-statement by the many admirers who marvelled at his athleticism and skill.

"He reminds me a lot of Don Meredith, the legendary quarter-back of the Dallas Cowboys," said veteran US golf-writer Furman Bisher of the Atlanta Journal.

It was also a very special occasion for Smyth's 54-year-old Dublin caddie, Ray Latchford. Though they have been together for seven years, Latchford actually first caddied for him back in 1973, in the Home International Amateur Championship at Lytham.

Earlier this month, at Castlerock GC on the Causeway Coast, Latchford found himself accepting responsibility for one of the game's oldest trophies.

His "master" had done it again. With a final round of 68, Smyth had resisted the challenge of Paul McGinley to capture the Smurfit Irish Professional Championship for a sixth time. In the process, he could claim ownership of the title in a fourth successive decade.

His three-stroke winning margin stemmed from a 19-under-par aggregate of 273 on a course where he was 13-under for the five par-fives, whereas the longer-hitting McGinley was 10 under. In this context, it was interesting to recall that in Madeira, the crucial hole of Smyth's final round, was also a par-five.

"It was the seventh and I hooked my drive into trees," he recalled. "Though it seemed as if I had little chance of getting out, I took a huge gamble with a wedge. It went through a gap and on to the fairway from where I hit a seven- iron to four feet. When I holed the putt for a birdie, that's where things changed."

Later at Castlerock, he denied any suggestions of mischief in promoting McGinley's prospects on the eve of the championship, perhaps in the hope of a fall.

"I knew Paul was the man to beat, but deep down I felt I had a chance if I played as well as I know I can," he said afterwards.

An Ulster voice in the background suggested: "I wouldn't mind owning a share of him when he turns senior." Which is still 16 months away.