Smyth proves life can begin at 50

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.

Smyth’s campaign isn’t quite at an end for he intends to play in the European Seniors Tour Championship in Bahrain next week but essentially it is time for him to put his feet up back home in Baltray, Co Louth and reflect on how exciting life has become since he passed the 50 mark a couple of years ago.

At the end of 2003, he played himself onto the lucrative Champions Tour but didn’t match his own high standard, amassing no more than $536,000 from 27 events. Second time round, though, it’s been a different story as already this year he captured the first prize of $232,500 in the SBC Classic in March and $382,000 for winning the Liberty Mutual Legends title in April.