Birthday of Champions for Smyth

Senior star Des Smyth will celebrate his 57th birthday on the US Champions Tour today by making his first start for three months.

The Drogheda ace has landed a sponsor’s invitation to play in the $1.7m Ace Group Classic at Naples in Florida.

But he insists that he has no intention to trying to return full time to megabucks US senior circuit after earning over $4.4 million there between 2006 and 2009.

Smyth said: “I am just here for the week on a sponsor’s invite and I won’t be playing next week unless I finish in the top 10.

“It is a great tour and they have some fantastic new players here now with Paul Azinger and Corey Pavin joining.

“But I have no plans to come back out here. Even if I won the tournament this week, I wouldn’t come back. I did my time and I am happy with it.”

The European Senior Tour resumes next month with events in Brunei, Thailand and South Africa.

But Smyth said: “I may not go to the events Far East but I will definitely play the Berenberg Masters at Fancourt in South Africa at the end of next month.”