Smyth focuses on major success after late Hawaiian heroics

DES SMYTH has good reason to feel optimistic about the new season after an encouraging start to his Champions Tour campaign at the weekend.

The veteran from Drogheda fired a final round 64 at the Hualalai Club in Hawaii to claim a tie for 13th place in the season-opening Mastercard Championships, an event he only dared to dream about competing in this time last year.

Smyth, aged 53 on February 12, began the 2004 season holding conditionally-exempt status on the Champions Tour, gaining him entry to only a selection of events. Yet the Irishman was soon restored to full tour status after claiming two victories in his first five starts on the way to the first seven-figure season in official earnings of his long career.