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Rafferty returns after
2 years of injury
Injury-plagued Ronan Rafferty,
European number one in 1989, makes his comeback in the Portuguese
Open on Thursday after nearly two years in the wilderness.
The 36-year-old Northern
Irishman, who began his pro career at the age of 17, has had thumb and wrist
problems since early 1998. He eventually underwent surgery in Australia.
Now Rafferty has to rehabilitate.
"It will be like starting out all over again," he said at Penina before tackling
his first European Tour event since the European Grand Prix in June 1998.
"It was a long, long time
before anyone could discover what was wrong. It wasn't until I was on holiday
in Australia last February that something positive was done.
"While I was in Australia
it seemed sensible to seek out the sporting injuries experts there. They told
me they could operate and it would then be five to seven months recovery.
"Two bones had joined together
because of a chipped bone I'd damaged some time in the last 10 years. They had
to be operated on and I also had a tendon removed.
"You are fearful when somebody
takes the knife to you but I've made a complete recovery.
"I began playing again
last July and I've played in three tournaments at the end of the year and beginning
of this in Morocco, Hong Kong and Mauritius.
"That was the first test
and now playing my first European Tour event is the second test."
While he has been recuperating,
course architect Rafferty has tramped many miles discovering how some of Britain's
top links courses were designed to help him in his other career.
"Playing is my aim at the
moment," said Rafferty. "It's been nice pursuing other interests but now I want
to get back to work."
The Irishman will be up
against an old Ryder Cup colleague in Ian Woosnam who has also had to rebuild
his career.
Back problems have led
to a deterioration in the former U.S. Masters champion's swing and he has sought
the help of Lee Westwood's coach Peter Cowen.
