MATT BLACKEY will make his European Tour comeback in an event almost wiped out by the tsunami disaster.

The new Standard Chartered Indonesian Open in Jakarta miraculously escaped the tidal wave which wiped out great swathes of the country's coastline and Blackey, pictured above, admitted: "When the disaster struck, I think we all thought there would be no tournament there.

"But Jakarta was largely untouched by the tragedy and they are so anxious to keep what's left of the tourist trade going in Indonesia that they decided to go ahead with the event," said Blackey.

The Indonesia Open on March 24 is new on the European Tour schedule and follows hard on the heels of another first-timer, the TVC Classic in China, which Blackey won't qualify for.

Because he lost his European Tour card and had to go back to Tour School to reclaim it, the Southampton-based player has missed out on the higher ranked events during the early part of the season.

He last played a European Tour event back in December when he scrambled together 4,000 euros for a top 50 finish in the Dunhill championship at Leopard Creek, so he is desperate to get moving again.

"I managed to play 72 holes in an invitation event in Morocco two weeks ago and although I finished about 20th out of a field of 30, it was good to get in a bit of competition. I'm starting to get a bit ring rusty.

The only other competition he's had so far this winter is from members of his home club Hayling "trying to take a few quid off me!"

But one positive thing to come out of his enforced break is that Blackey has spent more time in the gym, building up his strength and fitness.

"I should be hitting the ball a bit further once I do get going," added Blackey, who will play three Erupean Tour events on the bounce after Indonesia, in Portugal, Madeira and San Roque, which is the venue for this year's Spanish Open.

"The long winter break has made me even more determined," he says. "I've got to make the most of what tournaments I have got, and if I do well in the next four, I'll get a decent re-rank and hopefully a few more starts later on in the season."