I HAVE now competed, if I can call it that, in the first two events on the European Senior Tour. Needless to say, my performances have been less than auspicious. The first event was the Turkish Senior Open at the National Golf Club near Antalya. This course was designed by David Feherty on a relatively tight budget but it has 18 good holes and demands straight hitting.

Nobody could complain about the course and indeed, the players were more than complimentary about the magnificent preparatory work carried out under the supervision of David Jones.

The course is excellent and with the advent of further courses in Turkey golf is set to generate huge revenue for the economy.

In Turkey, I shot 76, 78, missing the cut by four. My post mortem revealed that in each round I missed the fairway four times. I was too bold with approach shots twice and I missed too many make able pulls to really make an impact in the event.

I was hoping that I might have burned up all of my bad luck in Turkey but things went from bad to worse at St Margaret's in the Irish Seniors Open. I had sprained a lumbosacral muscle lifting luggage onto a bus in Turkey and then exarcerbated it at Heathrow on the way back. Having hit too many drives on the practice tee prior to the first round in St Margaret's I was in agony on the third fairway. I got pain killers from a kind lady on the fourth tee and struggled on to an embarrassing 81.

After a good rest and more medication I played a little better the next day. I dropped a stroke at the first and I shot nine pars in a row. Late in the round I three putted twice and then was unlucky to find a well hit tee shot on the 18th run a foot into the rough. I did not have the strength to hit the approach over the water hazard, the ball landed on the top of the bank and fell back into the water. A 76 left me bringing up the rear again.

It is sad to say, but my ambition for Sunday was to finish better than last. Catching my right middle finger in a heavy door on Saturday evening put paid to my chances. I was very disappointed but glad that the tournament was a success. It has a very bright future.

I have been dubbed the official tour doctor after the first two events. I treated players, wives and caddies for back pain, gastroenteritis, hay fever, a dog bite and gave general advice about medications. I think I will have to start charging for my services - as it looks, at this point, like the only way I will make money on tour.

The outstanding feature of the touring pros' game is their ability to hit the fairway consistently with the driver. As I commented in my previous article they all make sure their equipment is correct. A case in point is David Creamer who in his youth was a professional table tennis player. He is very slight and only about five foot six inches in height. His driver is 48 inches long and his slow smooth swing generates great distance.

Tommy Horton is going to be the man to beat throughout the season. He is a long hitter and his perfect swing and timing will never get him in too much trouble on any course.