Ian Woosnam was happy enough on his return to the K Club today - even after a closing double-bogey six robbed him of his first sub-70 round on the European Tour since last October.
"I'm going to put my feet up and have one of those Guinnesses," said the Welshman. "When you're in Ireland you've got to."
Woosnam, remembered for his balcony drinking after the Ryder Cup triumph at the venue last September, is fighting his way back after suffering all year from chronic post-viral fatigue syndrome.
The 49-year-old has not completed an event all season and, added to the fact he pulled out just before the start of the Masters at Augusta in April, that means he has not earned a single penny all season either.
A level-par 70 now gives him a chance of surviving his first halfway cut, however, and Woosnam added: "I'm disappointed to finish my round like that, but it's just nice to be out again. I'm only 75 per cent fit, but at least I am walking around the golf course again."
Monday's 36-hole Open qualifier at Sunningdale was his first competitive action since quitting the Irish Open after an opening 77 in mid-May. He missed out there by five shots and is not expecting to grab the one Carnoustie spot on offer this weekend.
"I'm concentrating on making the cut. It's difficult to get back into it when you have not played and I find it difficult now as I can't hit the ball far enough off the tee to take courses apart," he added.
"Last night I was really tired and I thought I might struggle, but I actually feel all right now. At the Masters it was in my hips and I could only walk 150 yards because I was in spasm. Since then it's gone down my legs — it's in my shins and feet at the moment."
The sodden ground and rough weather made the walking even tougher. "When I was at the Ryder Cup I didn't seem to notice the rain as I did today," he said. "I have great memories of that week, but I'm just trying to concentrate on my game now."
