SOUTH Essex golfers Daniel Brooks and Richard McEvoy begin their new European Tour seasons in South Africa today.

Both men are competing in the Alfred Dunhill Championships at Leopard Creek golf club.

For McEvoy it marks a return to the top tier of European golf after a year’s absence.

The Thorpe Hall professional, from Leigh, spent a year on the second level Challenge Tour last season after failing to retain his European Tour card for the 2014 season.

It was a tough year for McEvoy as he finished in 84th spot in the rankings but he rallied himself for the year-ending European Tour Qualifying School tournament in Malaga, Spain, last month.

Drawing on the experience gained from the previous four years playing on the European Tour, McEvoy captured the eighth qualifying spot and regained his card.

And after a short break, the 35-year-old is straight back into the action in South Africa.

He is joined in the first major tournament of the season by Basildon’s Brooks who will be hoping to begin his season as he did 12 months ago.

The former Woodlands School pupil, 27, did not miss a cut from December until May, winning his maiden European Tour title in Madeira in the process.

But he struggled after that and did not make another cut until the final two tournaments of the season in October.

He told the Echo last month that he has been working hard in the off-season in an attempt to hit the ground running again this season.

Brooks tees off at 9.40am this morning alongside the South African Jean Hugo and English compatriot Matthew Fitzpatrick.

McEvoy gets going 10 minutes later, at 9.50am, playing with Colin Nel (South Africa) and Chris Paisley (England).

The action is live on the red button on Sky Sports 4 from 8.30am.