HAVING overcome a heart problem, being appointed vice-captain of the 2006 European Ryder Cup, winning two US Champions Tour tournaments and $1,238,876 in prize money, Des Smyth can look back on the last ten months with satisfaction.

THINGS just get better and better for Des Smyth, vice-captain elect of the 2006 European Ryder Cup team and now a winner on the US Champions Tour.

Tom Watson took a look at his scorecard and was very happy. Watson fired a bogey-free eight-under-par 64 – one shot off the event record - and opened a two-stroke lead after the first round of the MasterCard Championship in Hawaii.