With the best of the modern generation of European golfers at Portmarnock this week, across the Irish Sea at Turnberry, some illustrious names from the past in Irish golf will be mixing it with the very best at the British Seniors Open.

In a veritable who's who of three decades of world golf that includes the famous "Big 3" of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player, it is Des Smyth who is the main threat to the favourites of Tom Watson, Tom Kite and Craig Stadler.

"We've got a great event here this week, a great golf course and a great field," said the man from Drogheda, at the age of 50 playing in his "rookie" seniors season, adding, "I've been through a bit of a lull in the last few weeks.

"I have been hitting the ball well, but haven't been scoring, but I've had a great start to my career on the Champion's Tour, where my main goal was to get into the top-30 and solidify my card for next year."

Smyth sits in 23rd place on the US Champions Tour money list just behind his playing partner for the first two days, Fuzzy Zoeller, with Manuel Piñero making up the three-ball that tees off at 1.0 p.m.

Two-times British Seniors Open champion Christy O'Connor Jnr follows Smyth out at 1.10 p.m. but he is not optimistic about making it a hat-trick due to a shoulder injury.

The third of the Irish triumvirate thought to be in the frame is Eamonn Darcy, who precedes Smyth off the tee at 12.50 p.m.