ALASTAIR FORSYTH is hoping to provide a fitting tribute to the memory of his late caddie in this week's Madeira Islands Open.

The Paisley ace has returned to the scene of the darkest moment of his professional career on the Portuguese archipelago, 10 months after his bagman, Iain McGregor, collapsed and died on the course during last year's tournament.

McGregor suffered a fatal heart attack on the ninth fairway of the steeply undulating Santo da Serra course during the final round of the weather-hit event and the decision by the European Tour officials to play the tournament to a conclusion caused a great deal of anguish and anger among players and caddies alike.

The picture of Forsyth hunched down over the stricken McGregor, in a stunned and desperate attempt at offering some kind of assistance to his bagman, will remain an enduring, disturbing image of the 2014 season and returning to the scene of the tragedy has not been easy.

Forsyth, who won the Madeira Islands Open in 2008, said: "It's a bit strange coming back. I played up the ninth hole in the Pro-Am and I just tried to look away from where it happened. You never expect that to happen on a golf course and it took a while for me to get over it.

"I was in two minds about coming over, to be honest, and I know some of the caddies, who were friendly with Iain, have not come out. It's been tough for them. I know the big man will be in everybody's thoughts this week and it would be nice if I could put in a decent performance for him."

Forsyth, who has moved into the coaching side of the game, has limited opportunities on the Tour now and, despite the sad circumstances surrounding this week's event, he knew he couldn't turn down a chance to compete.

He added: "It's not been very pleasant to be honest but you have to do what you have to do. Tano Goya and Adam Gee were my playing partners last year when it happened and they are both here. They don't have a great category for the Tour so they are in the same boat. They have to play."

Clydebank's Scott Henry, who lost in a play-off for the Madeira title a year ago, was also back in action today while, in America, Glasgow's Martin Laird was lining up in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, an event he won in 2011.