Des Smyth returns to action this week in the Czech Republic after finishing 39th last week at the Songdo Championship, the first US Champions Tour event in Korea - with a prize fund of US$3m - held at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club of Korea.
Smyth joins Eamonn Darcy, Denis O'Sullivan, Jimmy Heggarty and Eddie Polland at the Casa Serena Open in Prague which tees off on Friday.
Peter Mitchell is hoping his reputation as a man for the big occasion will inspire a successful defence of the Casa Serena Open in the Czech Republic this week. Mitchell has won some of the richest events on the Senior Tour circuit over the past three seasons, picking up €94,000 for his win at the Ryder Cup Wales Senior Open and then €43,000 at the Scottish Senior Open in 2008.
He followed those lucrative wins by taking the big €90,000 prize here at Casa Serena Golf last year and is hopeful that he can fly home on Monday with another cheque to deposit in the bank.
The 52 year old Londoner has also had to adjust to life as an asthma sufferer in the past 12 months but arguably his toughest battle this year has been coping with the problem that caused his asthma in the first place – an allergy to wine.
There are plenty of the Senior Tour’s finest in attendance at Casa Serena Golf looking to spoil Mitchell’s title defence, including Boonchu Ruangkit, Chris Williams and Angel Franco who can all overhaul Bernhard Langer at the top of the Order of Merit by scooping that €90,000 top prize.
Also in the Czech Republic is former Ryder Cup Captain Sam Torrance as well as recent Senior Tour champion Barry Lane and Carl Mason – who finished fifth to Mitchell last year at Casa Serena – will continue his quest for a 24th title that would make him the most successful player in European Senior Tour history.
