HE might have left a dog sulking back home, but Graeme Bell intends to be walking plenty on his own over the next few days after earning the right to compete at the top table on the European Senior Tour.

Despite playing in just three qualifying events on the Tour in 2014, Bell earned sufficiently to secure an automatic berth at the MCB Tour Championship in Mauritius where he will be sharing the Constance Belle Mare Plage course alongside the Tour’s number one Colin Montgomerie.

But the 15-hour flight time to the luxurious island in the Indian Ocean has not pleased everyone back on Teesside. “My wife has told me our new dog is pining, wondering where I am. He’s in a right sulk,” said Bell.

“He’s a Bichon Frise, called Sunny, and is only 17 weeks, he’s tiny. It’s a bit different leaving a dog behind, sulking, when I’m going away to play golf. Not really used to that! It’ll be the dog pining, not me though, it won’t affect my golf!”

Bell’s game has been strong this year. He finished tied 26th at the ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship in June, tied 46th at the Senior Open a month later and ended up tied 38th at the English Senior Open at Rockliffe Hall.

Combined has earned him the right to play in Mauritius, where the first of three rounds will start on Friday and Montgomerie will officially be handed the John Jacobs Trophy for finishing as the leading player on the European Senior Tour after four victories.

Given the quality of the field, Bell is not expecting too much from his trip although he is satisfied that he has the ability to spring a surprise if things start positively for him.

“I’m capable of shooting a score good enough to win it,” said the Eaglescliffe Golf Club professional. “I am good enough to do that, I know. It’s just being able to do that for the three rounds and finding the consistency required to win. That’s what I have not shown before.”

After flying out to Dubai on Monday and on to Mauritius, Bell was pencilled in to play two Pro-Ams on Wednesday and Thursday to gear himself up for the real deal on Friday.

“It’s great to be playing in this,” said the Hartlepool golfer. “To have qualified to play in it by just playing in three events this year is really good. I must be the only one to be in Mauritius who has done that.

“Now I’m in it hopefully I can do well. I would need to play exceptionally well to secure a full Tour card for next year. I think I’d need to get a top five place or something, but if I can get a top four spot that would be great too.

“I’ve been playing well enough, so it would be nice to play well in this as well. I’m not going out thinking I am going to win it, it’s the top 60 on the Order of Merit so you know it’s going to be a quality field.”

Bell will be 52 in April and is set to complete his second year on Tour, so what is it that drives him on to keep playing on the Tour? “I have no idea, absolutely no idea,” he said.

“I suppose I could stop playing, stop travelling around, but I’ve always taken the approach of ‘why?’ It might be that in a couple of years time I don’t even have the decision to make, something might go wrong where I can’t play golf, so I think I should make the most of playing for as long as I can.

“To have the opportunity to be flying out to Mauritius is special for me. I might not get the chance again, so I think I’m of the opinion that while I’m fit enough to play and compete then that’s what I will do.”

Darlington's Ellie Givens is also involved in the end of season showpiece on the Ladies European Tour. Givens has started strongly in the Dubai Ladies Masters as she looks to end the year on a high come Sunday.

As things stand she is pencilled in to play at Tour School next week where she will have to battle it out to retain her card for next year.