GOLFING legend Gary Player was among the many professionals to congratulate Gary Emerson on his maiden European Tour triumph in the Russian Open earlier this month.

"A letter from Gary Player congratulating me on my victory came out of the blue," revealed Emerson, who made a successful return to the Tour circuit by surviving the halfway cut in the BMW International Open in Germany yesterday.

"Our paths have crossed before a few times including a company day, but I never expected him to remember me.

"It has been a fantastic couple of weeks for me and I could hardly hit more than three or four balls during practice day on Tuesday before someone would come up and congratulate me," added Emerson.

With a year's exemption to look forward to, Emerson settled well back into business with an opening 71 and a one-over-par 73 yesterday to make the qualifying mark of level par in Munich - 10 shots behind halfway leader Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Emerson, who started his second round on the 10th tee, secured his place for the weekend with an eagle three at the 481-yard fifth hole.