Jose Maria Olazabal began the Open qualifier with a one over par 71 at Sunningdale Old on Monday - and then talked about the possibility of taking another lengthy break from golf.
Struggling badly from fatigue since returning from seven months out battling rheumatism, the double Masters champion was left needing something special from his afternoon round if he was to gain one of around 15 spots on offer.
Olazabal's last appearance was his missed cut in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth just over a month ago and he said: "I haven't played at all and can't practise much, so I'm not really expecting great things.
"Because it's the Open, it was a good reason to come, but it's basically a test for me and if I don't qualify I don't think I will be playing for four or five weeks at least."
The Spanish star, who after watching Spain's Euro 2008 triumph was up at 4.30am and first player to tee off at 6.30am, is entered for next week's Scottish Open at Loch Lomond and is in the field for the Bridgestone World Championship in Ohio at the end of next month, but it now remains to be seen when he next plays.
"The doctors have taken one of my medicines away, but we have to do this gradually to see if I improve.
"It's going to take two months at least to see if my body is cured. I feel like practising, but I just get tired and can't hit balls and play 18 holes in the same day.
"But at least my lower back is not getting as tight as it did before and that's positive. I have to really look for those signs."
Ryder Cup team-mates Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley were all in today's 120-strong field playing over both the Old and New courses.
Early leader was England's Simon Wakefield, after a five-under-par 65 on the Old.
The 34-year-old, who has made it through twice in the past, had a sense it might be his day when a 15-footer on the 13th he thought he had pushed well wide bobbled, turned left and went in.
He was one ahead of Australian Matthew Zions - while on the New Course, Challenge Tour player Anthony Wall and Mark Tullo, listed as English but a Chilean international in his amateur days, led with four-under 66s.
Thomas Bjorn, so close to winning at Sandwich in 2003, had a two-under 68. But Darren Clarke, a runner-up in The Open in 1997, was out in a five-over 40 to be near the rear of the field.
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