Ten years on from an unfortunate disqualification, Eamonn Darcy plays in the South African Open at Durban Country Club today looking to prove to his peers that there is life in the old dog yet.

It was in the 1988 South African Open that Darcy lay second, two strokes behind the eventual winner Wayne Westner, at this highly rated course.

But then disaster struck Darcy and David Feherty when they missed their tee-offs in the final round after timings had been rearranged to suit television coverage.

Darcy had another chance to win this event last year when he surprised even himself by taking the lead in Johannesburg in his first tournament on tour in 1997. This time he led on the Saturday before fading over the back-nine at the Glendower club. He went on to take 11th place the next day behind this week's defending champion Vijay Singh of Fiji.

"This year it's going to be the same, a case of playing it by ear," said Darcy. "I've been exercising my back a lot and I've been out in Barbados playing, so I'm used to the hot weather."

The 45-year-old Druids Glen professional is the only Irishman playing this week. Francis Howley and James Loughnane, who had to tried to pre-qualify despite winning last year's Zambian Open on the Southern African circuit, missed out on qualification.

However, Darcy might not finish the week either. His 75-yearold father Christy has been seriously ill and the Delgany man has put himself on standby to fly home.

"My father has had a hip replacement operation and during it he suffered a small stroke," explained Darcy. "He was recovering, and he is in very capable hands, but if I get the slightest suspicion of something not being quite right, then I'll be out of here."

This week's task is not only to compete against the likes of Singh but he also has to combat the towering presence of Ernie Els in front of his adoring home gallery.

Also standing competing in this event are European Ryder Cup men Bernhard Langer, Costantino Rocca and Ignacio Garrido, along with top southern Africans David Frost, Mark McNulty and Westner.