O’Sullivan aims for improvement on Seniors Tour
O'Sullivan, who celebrated his 55th birthday this week, spent the past three weeks in Spain preparing for his sixth season on tour. Unfortunately for him, his plans were frustrated by weather conditions.
"The first two weeks were virtually washed-out by rain, but fortunately the last week was good and I am happy with the state of my game."
The Warburg Cup is a huge attraction for O'Sullivan, who explained: "It is the seniors equivalent of the Ryder Cup a match between a USA team and the Rest, with 10 players on each side. It is not that well-known on this side of the Atlantic but is big in the States."
A place on the team is not easily achieved. The team of 10 must consist of five players over 50 years of age and five under 50. Arnold Palmer will captain Team USA this year and Gary Player will captain the Rest.
In recent years players such as Mark O'Meara, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam, Denis Durnian, Seiji Ebihara, who won the Irish Seniors last year, Aoki and Stewart Ginn, from Australia, have played in the match, which is covered on coast-to-coast TV in America.
The European Tour will start with its traditional "Caribbean Swing" with tournaments over the next three weeks in Jamaica, Barbados and Tobago.
The players will then travel to Adare in Co Limerick for the Irish Seniors Championship in the third week in May and 17 events are currently listed with the likelihood that three others will soon be added.
Last season's high point for O'Sullivan was a win in the Tunisia Open. It was his fifth outright win on tour and he is optimistically looking forward to making a good start in the Caribbean, where he has regularly finished in the top 10.
Needless to mention, he is looking at the Irish Open in Adare in May as an event for which he would like to peak.
Hopes of a home win in the tournament will be enhanced by the presence of two fellow-Irishmen in Eamonn Darcy and Des Smyth, who last week embarked upon their careers at senior level.
"The European tour is very strong this year and we are guaranteed 17 tournaments with the promise of three more," O'Sullivan said.
"The tour in Europe is expanding and it will be good to have two other Irish players along this season."
O'Sullivan, who made his name with his home club Cork GC , will continue to represent the Ring of Kerry club in Kenmare on tour.
He said five years as a professional has been a huge benefit to his game.
"I believe my game is improving all the time. It is becoming easier because I am striking the ball better and I am stronger mentally."
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