Athenry professional Raymond Ryan would have just cause to believe his relationship with the Gulf Air International Pro-Captain Challenge, supported by BMW, is jinxed.
Having qualified for last year's final he broke a rib playing rugby two months before the event and was only able to start practising three weeks prior to flying out to Bahrain for the prestigious tournament.
And just a fortnight before he tries to book a return trip to the Middle East Ryan, the 37-year-old finds himself unable to walk with a twisted knee.
However, he intends to drag himself to Knightsbrook in County Meath with captain Pat Costello - a 21-handicapper - for the qualifier on September 23, from which just one pair will progress to the final.
"I have had problems with my knee for a few years because of playing soccer," said Ryan.
"I went for a walk last week and I just kept going and when I got back I'd been gone for five hours. Now I can hardly walk at all."
Ryan joked: "I like my injuries - I don't really look after myself that well. But hopefully I will get to play in the qualifier."
Ryan and former captain Pat Coen finished fifth out of nine in last year's final but the experience of a week in Bahrain more than made up for missing out on top spot.
"Getting to the final is reward in itself," said Ryan, who revealed his playing time had been limited this season due to work commitments.
"I've played only one event this year because I've been working a lot and I've only played once with Pat and that was five months ago.
"We'll just go and see how it happens."
Ashbourne's John Dwyer may have played in the PGA Cup for Great Britain and Ireland but he has not yet come close to qualifying for the luxury Gulf Air grand final.
He will tee up with 12-handicap captain Aiden Punch hoping this is the year he breaks his duck.
"I've played in this event every opportunity I have had since moving to Ashbourne nine years ago and I've never come close so it would be nice to do well," he said.
"I've had a funny season. Up to July I was probably having the worst season I had ever had and then I recovered a bit and I've had a nice run since August so hopefully I'm coming into a bit of form.
"There's an Order of Merit event the week before so playing in this there will be a little less pressure. But we still want to do as well as we can and shoot the best score we can."
Dwyer will feel confident going into the event as he has a good record - last year's qualifier apart - on the Knightsbrook course.
"When it opened in 2006 I played in a pro-am and finished second and then last year I flew in straight from the PGA Cup (in America) for a two-day pro-am and won it," added the 34-year-old.
The winners of the qualifier will book their place on a luxury trip to the Middle East at the end of the year, which begins by being chauffeur driven to the airport and includes a stay in a five-star hotel with the 36-hole final being played at the The Royal Golf Club in Bahrain.
Each of the PGA's seven regions provides one pair for the final, which is supplemented by the host club's professional and captain and the winners of an international qualifier.