European Tour: Michael Hoey and David Higgins got their bids to finish the year as Challenge Tour number one off to a solid start at the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final in Italy, posting respective first-round scores of three-under 69 and two-under 70 at this, the final event of the season.
Currently fifth and ninth in the rankings, Hoey and Higgins can each finish the year as number one with a victory in Italy this week and, in doing so, join Tiger Woods and company at the HSBC Champions Tournament in China in three weeks' time.
With leaders Benn Barham and James Hepworth of England, Frenchman Olivier David and Scotland's Marc Warren on five under par, Hoey and Higgins are right in contention to take the €42,800 first prize after the first round.
Stephen Browne and Colm Moriarty, however, have their work cut out after disappointing opening rounds.
Browne, who is 24th on the rankings, posted a 75, while Moriarty, who, at 40th on the rankings is the Irishman most in need of a victory, posted what can only be described as a disastrous 79.
Come the final round on Saturday the European Tour cards will be handed out to the top 20 players on the final rankings.
Hoey said: "I have made quite a good turnaround in form, because I wasn't hitting the ball at all well at the last tournament I played, in Tenerife, so it was good to play better today.
"The goal for me is still to finish number one and get into the Champions tournament and I still have the chance to do that."
It is also crunch time on the main European Tour - and not to see who wins it, but to determine who stays on it.
Agony and ecstasy will be etched on faces as the futures of a number of players are decided in Mallorca. Some will rejoice that they have earned another year on the multi-million-pound circuit. Others will feel like failures as they leave the island, knowing their next stop is the dreaded make-or-break qualifying school.
With one event to go this season Scot David Drysdale is the man in the hot seat of 116th, with his lead over Frenchman Gregory Bourdy about €600.
Jarmo Sandelin was a member of Europe's Ryder Cup team just six years ago, but only a top-four spot this week will save him a first trip to the school for 12 years.
The only Irishmen in the field have a different target. Damien McGrane (62nd) and Gary Murphy (78th) need to break into the top 60 to earn a place in next week's Volvo Masters at Valderrama.
