After a vintage 2010 season by the Irish contingent on The European Tour, Des Smyth believes the time is now right for him to provide more reasons for the Emerald Isle to smile on the Senior Tour in 2011.
Despite winning the Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters in September, Smyth felt he only began to approach his best form towards the end of the 2010 campaign and has vowed there is more to come.
The 57 year old from Drogheda is slowly readjusting to life back in Europe after ending a four year stint on the US Champions Tour in 2008.
With two full seasons now under his belt on the Senior Tour, Smyth feels his game is at a level where he can challenge on a weekly basis and is confident 2011 will be a “big year” for him.
“I was delighted with my win last season of course – that made my year as wins often do – but overall I was happy as I felt I made progress, especially towards the latter end of the year,” he said.
“I felt was really improving. I might not have reflected it with the way I scored but my game is much better now than it was two years ago and I’m fairly optimistic about next year.
“I think next year is going to be a big year for me. I know that sounds crazy but I work on a very slow cycle. I always have done. When I went to America I played great for four years then I went on a bit of a downwards swing but I’ve worked hard on my game and it has improved tremendously.
“I competed quite well over the final weeks of the season and that is a good sign for me. Now I feel my game has come round I just need to get the putter going. For a few years there I was playing terribly. I don’t have a coach so I just have to pick up on what people tell me.
"I know by the way I’m hitting the ball if it is good or not. It hasn’t been good but the back end of last year was. Ironically for the win it wasn’t but a couple of weeks later it started coming around.”
Smyth, who was one of Ian Woosnam’s Vice Captains at The 2006 Ryder Cup, still holds the record as the oldest winner on The European Tour after winning the Madeira Island Open in 2001 at the age of 48 years and 34 days.
His victory at Woburn in September meant he has won a tournament in each of the past five decades, having collected his first title in the European Match Play Championship in 1979.
With the scent of victory still fresh from his Travis Perkins plc Masters triumph, Smyth believes his form is on an upward trajectory following a dip towards the end of his stint on the US Champions Tour.
“I did have a little period of adjustment coming back from America,” he admitted. “I played for four and a half years out there and then my game went downhill so I struggled. Even in 2009 I didn’t play well on the Senior Tour.
“It is all to do with the way I’m feeling about my game. If I feel good I feel I can do really well but if my game is not there I’m fighting an uphill battle because the standard is very high. You can’t go out and shoot 71 and expect to do any good. Next year will be good though – I’m happy with my progress.”
