Alastair Forsyth and Marc Warren begin bid to bounce back in Africa

Despite a lack of practice due to the bad weather, the duo, who finished outside the top 115 on the money-list last season before making unsuccessful trips to the Qualifying School, are in the field for the Africa Open, which starts today in East London.

In recent seasons, both Forsyth and Warren, who have each won twice on the European Tour, have been able to wait for the Middle East swing to start their campaigns but now they can't pick and choose their events.

They are also in next week's Joburg Open but are still waiting to find out if they will get invites for the four big-money events thereafter, in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Qatar and Dubai.

"It was a tough time for them over Christmas because they couldn't play any golf due to the weather but every player based in Northern Europe has been in the same boat," said Brian Marchbank, who manages both Forsyth and Warren for Stirling-based 110sport.

"Their preparation has not been what they would have wanted for this week's event but they have gone to South Africa in reasonable spirits and it would be good if they could then get at least one invite each for the events in the Middle East."

Both players should get into the Avantha Masters in India the week after Dubai, as well as the Sicilian Open and the Andalucian Open in March, while Forsyth, a former winner of the event, is also guaranteed a spot in the Malaysian Open.

"It is a new start for both of them," added Marchbank. "What happened in 2010 is finished. It's about getting on with it in 2011 and I am positive they will get back on the main Tour - one way or the other."

By that, he meant it is too early to say whether or not either player will be turning their attention to the second-tier Challenge Tour as a route back to the top circuit. "Olly Fisher was in the same boat this time last year," noted Marchbank. "After making a good start to his professional career, he lost his card but got a couple of invites, managed to win €200,000-250,000 by April and was effectively back on the Tour as a result of getting invites.

"The situation Steven O'Hara and Robert Rock were in three seasons ago is also something to look at. Around the St Omer Open in June, Robert had won €100,000 and Steven €70,000. Steven went on to finish ninth on the Challenge Tour to secure his card, while Robert achieved the same goal through getting starts on the main circuit.

"The point I am trying to make is there no right or wrong way of doing it.Marc, for instance, may not decide to play on the Challenge Tour, but that's a bridge we will cross in mid-April, when that circuit starts in earnest.

"If they've won around €100,00, we will try and push for more invites on the European Tour, using the sympathy card, if you like, to try and persuade sponsors and promoters to give them spots.

"But, if they've made a poor start and only made something like €5,000, then it may be the case that the Challenge Tour is going to be the best avenue for the rest of the season.

"The difficult thing for me is that I don't have any control over what is happening on the golf course. However, it is important both Al and Marc get off to a good start to the season. That would give them a bit of confidence, something that was knocked out of them at the end of last year."

Also competing in East London, where the field is headed by major winners Louis Oosthuizen and Retief Goosen, are David Drysdale, Scott Drummond,, Scott Jamieson, George Murray, the Saltman siblings, Lloyd and Elliot, and Steven O'Hara.

The latter is also managed by Marchbank, who has high hopes for the Motherwell man this season. "Steven is still someone people see as having lots of potential. It's just a case of getting his putting to an acceptable level. I'm not talking about 26-27 putts per round. If he could manage 30-32, I am confident he he could put himself in contention," he said."