Over 20 months ago, on June 7th, 1998, Ronan Patrick Rafferty rolled in what was to be his last competitive putt on the PGA European Tour. It was the 73rd stroke which the Irishman took on that final day of the English Open, his 286th of the tournament and was sufficient to give him a tie for 41st place behind the winner Lee Westwood. It was also to prove to be his last taste of life as a touring professional for longer than he could have envisaged.

In six tournaments in that injury-marred season, Rafferty made only two cuts - and the injury to his left thumb was to rule him out for the rest of the season and all of 1999. Indeed, the damage to his wrist required surgery at a clinic in Melbourne in January of last year.

On Thursday next, Rafferty competes in the Portuguese Open at Penina. It will be his first European Tour event since June 1998, Rafferty did play in the invitational Hussain Trophy in Morocco last November and also played in a tournament in Hong Kong, where he missed the cut.

His 10-year exemption as leading money-winner in 1989 expired at the end of last year, but Rafferty has been given a medical exemption - as is customary in such circumstances - for this season. A former winner of the Portuguese Open (at Vila Sol in 1992), Rafferty is embarking on his 18th season on the tour and will be seeking to add to his total of seven European Tour victories and 14 achieved worldwide since he turned professional in 1981.

Rafferty will be one of five Irishmen competing in Portugal: Eamonn Darcy and Des Smyth are both making their seasonal debuts, while Paul McGinley, who has played in South Africa and Australia but took a week's rest and missed out on Malaysia, returns to the schedule. Gary Murphy, who has yet to make a cut in his rookie year, also competes. Irish positions in Order of Merit: 21st - P Harrington €62,917; 27th - P McGinley €45,932; 150th - J Loughnane €1,948.

Mount Juliet and Glanbia have joined forces to raise funds for the Carlow/Kilkenny CAT Scan appeal for St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny. A 30-team corporate Golf Classic will be staged at the course on Monday, 8th May, and the target is to raise over £40,000. Entry fee is £1,500 per team. Further information from Kate MacCann, Director of Sales and Marketing, Mount Juliet (056-73000).