Jimmy Heggarty will be looking for a repeat of his performance in last year’s Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters as the European Senior Tour begins a two-week stretch in Asia.

Heggarty was second in Brunei a year ago, firing closing rounds of 68 and 67 to finish just two shots adrift of American Mike Cunning for what is still his best finish on the over 50s circuit. 

The Ulsterman will want to see a marked improvement upon his last Senior Tour outing though, a 67^th place finish in December’s Mauritius Commercial Bank Open that included a final round of 82.

The other Irish player competing this week is Denis O’Sullivan, looking for an early birthday present in the week before he turns 62.

The Cork man recovered from a poor start to claim a place in the top 20 in Mauritius and will play alongside Heggarty, with American Scott Taylor the final member of the group.

Among the strong field assembled this week are last year’s Order of Merit champion Sam Torrance, major champions Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam and 1995 Open runner-up Costantina Rocca. 

Back on the Jack Nicklaus-designed course at the Empire Hotel & Country Club, the Brunei event is the second on the 2010 Senior Tour calendar, and is immediately followed by a trip to Thailand next week.