For an unbroken period of 10 seasons, starting in 1979, Des Smyth never failed to get into the top-25 of the European Order of Merit. It is an intriguing statistic, particularly when set against the failure of his younger compatriots to achieve comparable consistency in recent years.
The point is prompted by a situation whereby only two Irish players - Darren Clarke (seventh) and Paul McGinley (22nd) - are in the top-25 of the current money list. Granted, Padraig Harrington misses out narrowly in 26th position, but an overall decline in Irish fortunes cannot be denied.
When experts discuss increased competition, they have in mind the intense rivalry that obtains further down the order, where standards have risen appreciably. But it is believed that the top players should still succeed in dominating the tour on a consistent basis, as Colin Montgomerie has done by leading the Order of Merit for five successive seasons.
Against that background, the Irish are clearly failing to make the desired impact. For instance, even Clarke, the country's top player, has not been in the top-25 for more than three successive seasons - 1995, 1996, 1997 - though it can be assumed he will be there at the end of this year.
Harrington could yet emulate Smyth, given that in only two full seasons on tour he has finished 11th and eighth in the Order of Merit.
Taking a broader view of things, it is interesting to note that Ireland had nine players - Clarke, Harrington, McGinley, Raymond Burns, Philip Walton, Eamonn Darcy, Ronan Rafferty, Smyth and David Higgins - in the top-100 of the Order of Merit at the end of the 1996 season. At the moment, the representation is down to five - Clarke, McGinley, Harrington, Walton and Darcy.
It reflects a disturbing trend. The inescapable fact is that the dominant players of former years are not being replaced in sufficient numbers to maintain a desirable Irish representation on Tour. This was especially evident in the English Open last weekend when the leading Irishman was Christy O'Connor Jnr.
The 49-year-old Galwayman, whose last Order of Merit placing inside the top-100 was at the end of the 1992 season when victory in the British Masters boosted him to 23rd place, will be back in action this week in the European Grand Prix at Slaley Hall. The full Irish complement is: McGinley, O'Connor Jnr, Rafferty, Walton, Darcy, Smyth, Burns and Francis Howley. Higgins is first alternate.
Irish positions in the Order of Merit are: 7, D Clarke £293,663; 22, P McGinley £97,778; 26, P Harrington £89,918; 44, P Walton £59,649; 90, E Darcy £28,848; 130, C O'Connor Jnr £14,440; 132, R Burns £13,539; 173, R Rafferty £4,564; 183, D Higgins £3,561; 191, C Clark £2,170; 203, F Howley £1,163.
