Feherty back in the game

THE European Tour has moved to sunny South Africa for the next three weeks and, after the host country and England, Ireland has the strongest contingent of golfers taking part. First up on the African itinerary is the Dimension Data Pro Am tournament which starts at Sun City today, and this is where the popular David Feherty makes his comeback, on the professional circuit and rather ironically in the land of his estranged wife's birth.

Feherty, the master of the interview room quip, may have something of a reputation for a emotional fragility out on the golf course, but this week he will certainly be looking to change that.

In addition to Feherty, Ireland will be well represented by Ronan Rafferty, Philip Walton, Eamon Darcy, Des Smyth, John McHenry and David Higgins, and any or all of them could feature prominently. McHenry (31), who has been struggling with his form Fin South Africa over the past fortnight, suddenly seemed to click in the last round of the Wild Coast challenge on Sunday with a superb six under par 64. And he will be hoping to maintain that sort of form over the next three weeks in the more lucrative European co sanctioned events.

Even the young Higgins, son of big hitting Liam, has a chance of some success this week. Like McHenry, the 23 year old has been in South Africa for almost a month and has played consistent golf from tee to green. All Higgins has to do is to find a hot streak with his putter.

But a strong field of 160 professionals, headed by world number two Nick Price of Zimbabwe, is chasing glory this week and the eventual winner could come from any number of permutations.

Leading the European contingent is Costantina Rocca of Italy while both Welshmen Ian Woosnam and South African Wayne Westner bring consistent form to Sun City after registering back to back wins on the European and South African Tours respectively.

Woosnam believes he is back to his best golf since 1992 after winning the Johnny Walker Classic in Singapore and last week's Heineken Classic in Australia. And the gutsy Welshman is no stranger to Sun City, having won the 1987 Million Dollar golf challenge over the Gary Player country club lay out.