Lane is waiting for Abu Dhabi event

Winning this week's Joburg Open in South Africa would guarantee the 49-year-old a start - and would also make him the oldest winner in Tour history.

Barry Lane is still waiting to discover whether he will play the 650th event of his European Tour career in Abu Dhabi next week.

The chance is alive for the ex-Ryder Cup player after an opening 65 yesterday.

That was three behind little-known South African Neil Schietekat and it put him in joint eighth place, but all seven players ahead of him were on the easier West Course at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington yesterday.

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Like fellow Englishman Danny Willett, Lane went round the much longer and tougher East lay-out in six under par.

Schietekat, not even in the world's top 1,000, led by one overnight from compatriots Charl Schwartzel and Jbe Kruger, Ulsterman Darren Clarke and England's Simon Khan and David Lynn. Scot Alastair Forsyth was one further back.

Irishman Des Smyth remains the circuit's oldest champion. He was just past his 48th birthday when he lifted the Madeira Island Open in 2001.

Lane is 50 in June and becomes eligible for seniors golf then, but will need no reminding that Greg Norman was third in the 2008 Open at 53 and 59-year-old Tom Watson went even closer at Turnberry last July.

There is still a long way to go for Lane to match Sam Torrance, whose record of 705 tournaments could stand forever.