DENIS Durnian spent eight years preparing for the European Seniors’ Tour.

In golfing terms that equates to roughly half the time a player can expect to make a decent living out of the game at the top level. But Durnian, who threw in his card at the age of 42 after after an alarming loss of form on the regular circuit, always had the self belief that he would get another chance in later life.

There were sceptics, especially after his earnings plunged from £145,000 in 1989 to a miserly £3,000 three years later when he decided enough was enough.

And there were more doubters when he rented an old mill in Stockport to assemble an odd-looking line of swing frames.

But Durnian knew precisely what he was doing. He designed the frames not only keep his swing on the right line but to improve his muscle memory and, allied to a sophisticated computer system, he shared his methods with other players.

Manchester’s best-known golfer never to have played in the Ryder Cup rarely played competitively until he knew the time was right.

Spectacular

And what a spectacular start it was to his senior career when, last summer, he finished tied second behind Australian Ian Stanley in his very first event — the Coca-Cola Kaiser Karl Tournament in Germany.

But it was not until this season that Wigan-born Durnian proved that all his hard work and dedication was worthwhile.

He banked the biggest cheque in the tour’s history after picking up £83,00 for his victory in the Wales Senior Open.

‘‘I never won that much in 21 years on the main tour,’’ he said. ‘‘I did not expect so much success so soon. I had expected it to take about four years to adjust to senior’s golf so I’ve given myself a head start.

‘‘I still believe I need to be more consistent, which is something I will work on.’’

Durnian heads into Friday’s first round of the M.E.N. backed Dan Technology Tournament of Champions at Mere knowing that a victory on his home patch would all but confirm his place as top man in the European Seniors’ Tour order of merit.

‘‘That’s my second target - the first was to qualify for the UBS Warburg Cup at Kiawah Island next month. It’s a 12-man team event and Jack Nicklaus and Arnie Palmer are playing for the United States,’’ he said.