A European tour record unlikely ever to be equalled will be set in Switzerland today - the moment that Italian Aldo Casera hits his opening drive in the Canon European Masters.

The tournament is the first in the points race for next year's European Ryder Cup team. But Casera has no thoughts of being one of Mark James's 12 men.

He is 79 years old and he is playing in the event for the 50th time.

Casera's debut was in 1948, he won two years later when it was known as the Swiss Open and the only time he has been an absentee since was in 1985.

Last year he equalled his age with an opening 78, then beat it by five the following day - but still missed the half-way cut by 12 shots.

"I come back each year to see all my friends," he said.