Two mediocre wind-plagued rounds of 77 at Port Royal and Mid Ocean yesterday and Tuesday are not going to deter Tim Conley as the defending champion enters today's opening round of the Bermuda Open at Port Royal.

Winner of the event for the second time last year by turning in rounds of 67, 72, 71 and 69 the frequent visitor to the Island is not too worried about his tune-up scores this week after arriving from the US on Monday night - he is more concerned about the field that he will go up against.

Among those he feels will offer spirited challenges are top local professional Dwayne Pearman, who he played with on Tuesday and Wednesday, former winner Mike Donald and another American Richard Johnson, who was hurt on the Buy.Com tour this year but was the leading money winner last year and will put up a stiff fight for the title.

The field will feature more than 48 overseas pros with 27 from America, 13 from Canada and six from Britain as well as one Swede and one Dutchman.

When he arrived on the Island Conley felt that his game was pretty good, but the two rounds indicated he had to settle down and concentrate more when the serious stuff starts.

"Yes, I thought my game was pretty good coming here until I played in the wind the last two days and shot a pair of 77s at Port Royal and Mid Ocean. But I think my concentration is ahead to Thursday, not focused on Tuesday and Wednesday,'' he said.

"I don't think the weather will be as consistently bad as it was (Wednesday) morning when there was a pretty strong wind at Mid Ocean. I haven't played there in five years and couldn't really remember where to hit the ball. But these were just practice rounds and you are not focusing on a score."

Today, he reckons, will be a different story, the whole approach will be more professional when he tees off.

"The field is pretty strong this year, there are a couple of kids playing who I have not seen before and then there are always the challenge from the regular guys," he said.

"Dwayne Pearman is one in particular who I expect to do well, he is striking the ball pretty good.

"If he can get it up and down pretty good and make some putts he will definitely be a factor, he hit a lot of good shots in that wind at Mid Ocean today. It's hard to predict how anybody is going to play in a tournament, it's anyone's guess.

"All I can say is that it's four days of good, competitive golf and it's about who can survive the longest.''