His last victory came back in 1993 however, and the 38-year-old has struggled badly to regain any kind of form since missing two seasons with a thumb injury.

He made just one cut in 19 starts last year and one in 10 so far this season, but a first-round 65, five under, gave him every chance to improve on that terrible run today.

‘‘I’ve been driving very badly for the last couple of seasons so the last three months have been about finding a method to get myself on the golf course,’’ said Rafferty, from Newry in Co Down.

‘‘It might not be the prettiest thing but if I aim left and cut it I can find the fairway. I’ve never had the greatest swing but it gets the job done and that’s the emphasis more than ever.’’

Rafferty finished 243rd on the Order of Merit last year and is only exempt for this season due to his position in the top 40 on the career money list, but has never thought of hanging up his spikes.

‘‘I’m in the very lucky position that I love to play golf and I know that a lot of my fellow professionals don’t,’’ Rafferty added.

‘‘I know they wouldn’t play social golf and hate pro-ams but I don’t have any problem going out to play golf.

‘‘It has been a struggle but as long as we occasionally play the odd decent golf course in a tournament I will probably come out and play.

‘‘I haven’t been playing well enough to fight myself out of a paper bag and getting to play the weekends now is a big deal.’’

Rafferty’s 65 was only good enough for a share of second place along with David Gilford, Raymond Russell and Holland’s Chris Van Der Velde after Tobias Dier equalled the lowest ever score on the European Tour.

Dier carded 10 birdies in a brilliant 60, and had an eagle putt on the last for a 59, and Rafferty can perhaps take heart from the young German’s previous struggles.

The 25-year-old has missed the cut 12 times in his last 15 events and his tournament win in Ireland last year came in the one event in 13 in which he made the cut.