IN his attempts to pocket a first European Tour success, Graeme Storm will take a break from the fairways and turn to the snooker world for advice over the next couple of days.

Storm, who has been regularly on cue for his first Tour honour this season - he finished 14th in last weekend's Open de Espana - will be at the Crucible today for Shaun Murphy's World Championship semi-final with Mark Selby.

And given the way Murphy recorded one of the most stunning Crucible comebacks in the last round, Storm's stablemate from the Champions UK management group could have a few tips on holding his nerve.

The Rotherham potter trailed Matthew Stevens 11-5 but ended up snatching a dramatic 13-12 victory to edge closer to the final.

Champions UK also boast BBC commentator Willie Thorne among their clients, and it was the man who is known as the Maximum Man who was responsible for taking Storm on board a few years ago, when his career was on the up again.

And the Hartlepool golfer, who took the decision to sit out this week's Telecom Italia Open last month, is hoping a rest from the European Tour scene can augur well for the remainder of the campaign.

"I could have been watching Hartlepool this weekend trying to win League Two but I had already put plans in place to go to the Crucible to watch Shaun," said the life long Pools fan.

"It will be my first time at the Crucible and it should be really good to see how the best players in the snooker game prepare. Maybe I can pick up a few tips and it could turn out to be really beneficial.

"John Parrott watched me at the Open qualifiers last year and he will be there, and Willie has said that I could have a word with John and Steve Davis. Maybe they can tell me what I should do to win a tournament."

Having missed just three cuts this season, Storm has managed to maintain the progress of the past two seasons when he managed to clinch a place in the end of campaign showpiece in Valderrama, the Volvo Masters.

But, despite currently sitting 36th in the Order of Merit and on course for a third appearance in November, he set his sights on his first Tour win at the start of campaign - something which has continued to elude him.

Nevertheless, given he has recorded seven top 20 finishes and boasts earnings of nearly £200,000 this season, Storm hopes his maiden triumph is not too far away.

"Even in the three tournaments where I missed the cut (BMW Asian Open, the Madeira Islands Open and Dubai Desert Classic) I didn't play that badly," said Storm.

"I am playing well and I have been playing well all season. I have had the best start to the season I have ever had but I still haven't been able to get that win. I'm sure it will come."

Having won the British Amateur Championship at Royal County Down in 1999 and recorded his best Tour finish of second at the K-Club, Storm likes his experiences of Ireland.

So, when he returns to action at the Irish Open on May 17, he will do so hoping that mixing with the men of the green baize will stand him in good stead for his adventure to the Emerald Isle.

"It's fair to say that two of my best memories of my career have came from competitions in Ireland," said the 29-year-old. "It would be nice for those to continue."

Durham's preparations for their first Daily Telegraph League match of the season took another dent last weekend when they lost out to British Universities. A week earlier the county side were humbled by the North-East & North-West Professionals and, despite personal successes, collectively Durham lost for the second week in a row.

Now Durham, fresh from that disappointment at South Shields, are focused on the date with Cumbria at Brampton Golf Club on May 12, when they can recall county champion Michael Curry back to the fold.

Durham team to face Cumbria: Michael Curry (Brancepeth Castle), Graeme Marchbank (Durham City), Hugh Hamilton (Seaton Carew), Jamie Birkbeck (Wynyard), Stuart Brown (Castle Eden), Lee McCavanagh (Woodham), Bryan Ross (Heworth), Steven Dance (Ramside), Callum Tarren (Dinsdale Spa), Neil Harker-Bell (South Moor), Chris Hewitt (Beamish Park), Jim Dryden (South Shields). Reserves: Adam Bates (Blackwell Grange), Ian McEntee (South Moor), Ryan Riley (Eaglescliffe).