THE irony was not lost on Denis Durnian when he scraped into the Rest of the World team to face a star-studded United States in the Warburg Cup at Kiawah Island this week.

He had to finish no worse than second in the European Seniors’ Tour order of merit to cement his place in the side which he achieved with a nervy last round in the final event of the season in Spain.

Durnian had led by a shot overnight but a bogey-strewn 74 dumped him into fifth.

Twice on the regular tour he blew his chance big style of playing in the Ryder Cup and in similar circumstances.

‘‘Of course it flashed through my mind what happened all those years ago,’’ admitted Manchester’s best known golfer.

‘‘In truth, it has been worrying me for the past three months which is why I’ve struggled with my game.

‘‘But now I’ve made the team the pressure’s off. I was determined to play in the Warburg to make up for my previous disappointments.

‘‘This is the first year the tournament is being staged and it’s expected to become bienniel and accepted as a senior Ryder Cup.’’

Illustrious

Durnian will be in illustrious company. The 12-man teams comprise some of the most famous players ever to tread the fairways.

Gary Player captains the Rest of the World who include Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam.

And if you think that’s an awesome line-up, just look at who the Americans have chosen.

The legendary Arnie Palmer will lead out the likes of Jack Nicklaus — the greatest golfer ever — Larry Nelson, Hale Irwin, Tom Watson and Mark O’Meara.

All of which is sending shivers down Durnian’s spine.

‘‘It’s not sunk in yet that I’m playing and against such giants of golf. It means a lot to me — without question this is the highlight of my career,’’ he said.

With earnings of £172,000 on the European Senior Tour, Durnian, 51, has won more than he even did in his 21 years on the main circuit which he quit prematurely in 1992 when his game went to pieces.

The former Northenden club professional spent the next eight years rebuilding his swing at his high-tech golf academy in Stockport which he later moved to Heaton Park.

His persistence and unflinching self-belief paid off when he tied second on his senior debut last year in Germany but it was his spectacular win in the Wales Open at Royal St David’s in June that established him as a force to be reckoned with.

Durnian won £83,000 — the biggest cheque in European senior history — and gained the high ground in the battle for the order of merit title. He showed signs of pressure when he slipped out of contention in the M. E. N. backed Senior Tournament of Champions at Mere last month before hanging on, albeit by the skin of his teeth, to his second spot in the rankings in Spain. ‘‘The Americans are really up for for Warburg — it’s getting maximum media exposure over there which is not surprising when you look at who’s playing.

‘‘I’ve no idea who will partner me in the foursomes and fourballs but I’m not bothered who I get nor about who we’re playing against.

‘‘All that’s down to Gary Player. It’s just fantastic to be in Kiawah.’’

Durnian, who will win at least $100,000 this week, resumes his winter training in South Africa in February before catching up with the tour in the Caribbean in April.

But he has no plans to join the mega-bucks US Tour until he’s happy with his game.

‘‘I’ve still some work to do despite my success this year,’’ he added.