By John Haughey BBC Northern Ireland

Smyth has claimed two wins on the Champions Tour in the US

Des Smyth is hoping his appearance in next month's Senior Irish Open at Ballyliffin can help him to regain form after his recent struggles in the US.

The 55-year-old is currently 60th in the Champions Tour money list and he says that 2008 is proving his "worst year" since he joined the senior ranks.

"I'll be practising hard over the next two weeks," Smyth told BBC Sport.

"After that, I play the Senior Welsh Open and then I'm really looking forward to playing at Ballyliffin."

Smyth, who has claimed two wins on the Champions Tour, travelled up to Ballyliffin a couple of weeks ago with a few friends to get a look at the Senior Irish Open venue.

The Drogheda man says he was "terribly impressed" with the Old Links which stages the 20-22 June event and the other facilities at the Inishowen club.

"It's an old style course but really nice," recalls Smyth, who has banked over $3m in America over the last five years.

"It was early in the season so the growth hadn't really kicked in but it was in pretty good order and I expect it will be in really good condition in three weeks time."

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Ballyliffin officials are also relieved that they installed a new state-of-the-art irrigation system earlier this year as the recent dry spell on the north and west course of Ireland has wreaked havoc on the greens of a number of other prominent links courses.

"It's a traditional course. You are going to get some difficult lies on sidehills and all that but that's part of links golf," added Smyth.

"I was terribly impressed with the clubhouse and the welcome that we got and the scenery up there is absolutely gorgeous."

Smyth joined the senior ranks in 2003 but the Ballyliffin event will be only his second appearance in the Senior Irish Open.

"I've been in America for five years but I've kind of reached the stage where I've enjoyed America for five years but I'm starting to run out of steam going over and back over the Atlantic.

"I thought it's time I started to play a few more Senior Irish Opens and I'll be playing in Wales the week before the Senior Irish Open on a links course as well.

"Ballyliffin is going to be great. We've a couple of really big stars coming in on the Seniors Tour now. (Ian) Woosnam is playing as far as I know and Sam Torrance and Sandy Lyle are both playing.

"The event will have past Masters and British Open champions and I think it's going to be a very exciting week."

The field will also include Smyth's brother Val, who will be aiming to win the JB Carr Memorial Trophy, which will be awarded to the top amateur.

I've always had a complicated action and every now and then I fall into difficulties Des Smyth

Val's rivals in the amateur category will include former British Amateur Champion Garth McGimpsey.

"It's nice that Val will be playing," adds Des.

"He's on an invite and he plays off scratch. He'll be delighted if he beats me."

As regards his own recent struggles on the fairways, the Champions Tour player says that he has been battling a "few techncial swing faults" since the end of 2007.

"It's been a bit of everything. I've always had a complicated action and every now and then I fall into difficulties and that's where I've been for the last six months.

"I'm hoping that the two weeks practice building up to the Welsh and Irish will bring my game up.

"If I can show some form in those two tournaments I can go back to America with a bit more confidence as I'm due to go back to the US after the Senior Irish Open."

Smyth is hoping that Ireland's senior contingent will prove just as competitive at Ballyliffin as the likes of Darren Clarke, Peter Lawrie and Damien McGrane have been on the main European Tour this season.

"I'd like to have an Irish win up there. That would be really great."