Though there were times recently when he might have viewed them as instruments of torture, Philip Walton took his clubs out last night and gave them a clean. It was the first time he had touched them since the bitter disappointment of failing to gain a European Tour card at the Qualifying School in Spain two weeks ago.
Depending on transatlantic arrangements, he expects to be heading off to San Diego, California this weekend for laser treatment on his eyes. After that, he will set about compiling a list of tournaments he would like to play next season.
"It's all a bit strange," he confessed. "From a position where I could decide my tournament schedule, picking the tournaments I liked and discarding the ones I didn't, I'll now have to plan from week to week. Sure it's a set-back. But you've got to take these things on the chin and go."
On August 14th 1983, Walton earned a cheque for £1,060 as one of five players tied on 284, 26th place behind Seve Ballesteros in the Carrolls Irish Open at Royal Dublin. The others were Christy O'Connor Snr, Wayne Grady, Glen Ralph and Michael King.
For the young Irishman, it was enough money to secure a European Tour card, which meant that the recent visit to the Qualifying School became his first since turning professional. "Obviously I'm not glad about what happened, but I'm glad I went," he said.
Walton explained: "I know that when I send in requests for sponsors' invitations to tournaments next season, they will be far better received for the fact that I went to the School. Certain other players didn't bother and I reckon they'll regret it.
"There have been no phone calls from any of my European Tour colleagues since I got home and frankly I didn't expect any. It's tough out there these days and anyway, they probably wouldn't know what to say. I don't think I'd be ringing anybody if the shoe was on the other foot.
"But ordinary friends of mine have been very kind. People seeing me in the street have stopped, said how sorry they were that I'd lost my card and wished me well. That was very nice. And there were phone calls from others who were concerned about my welfare."
He went on: "Getting the eyes done will be a good start towards building up my confidence again. I'm not expecting miracles, but the truth is that I was finding it very difficult to see on the golf course in poor light, early and late in the day. I tried contact lenses but they didn't work. Now I'm hoping this laser treatment will provide the answer."
Several golfers have benefited from the treatment, the most notable being American Tom Kite, who projected a decidedly strange image after discarding his familiar, horn-rimmed glasses a few seasons ago.
Meanwhile, Walton reached the end of the line in the Belgacom Open on October 24th. With a final round of 71, he completed a one-over-par total of 285 for a share of 41st place and prize money of £3,321. There was to be no great escape: the Qualifying School beckoned.
In the School four weeks later, when Gary Murphy was Ireland's only graduate in fifth position, Walton shot rounds of 68, 73, 78, 70, 81 and 77 for a six-round total of 447 for 77th place. The damage done by a fifth round of 81 proved to be irreparable: in fact he finished last of those who made the four-round cut.
Putting was his main problem last season, though his driving accuracy of 60.1 per cent of fairways hit for an overall 139th position, also left much to be desired. So did an average of 62.4 per cent for greens in regulation, leaving him down in 154th place.
But the real horror story was to be found in putts per greens hit in regulation. At 1.859 for 163rd place, this, more than any other deficiency in his game, left him contemplating a trip to San Roque some time before the season had ended. Equally revealing was a stroke-average of 73.63 (163rd place) compared with 69.59 for the leader, Colin Montgomerie, who Walton beat in a play-off for the English Open title in 1995.
The Dubliner's manager, Vicki Richards, will be sending off letters in the New Year to various tournament sponsors, looking for invitations for her client. He dislikes the intense heat which he would encounter in early-season events in South Africa, Australia and Malaysia and, ideally, he would like to get back into action in the Portuguese Open on February 17th to 20th, followed by the Dubai Desert Classic.
As a former winner of the English Open and French Open (1990), he automatically qualifies for those two events. Then there are likely invitations to the Murphy's Irish Open and the Smurfit European Open. Which means that he will be looking for about 15 additional invitations.
"I'm not taking anything for granted but I reckon I should be able to play about 20 tournaments next season," he said. "That should be enough. Things are getting tougher on tour every year, but I know I'm good enough to be out there with the best. All I need is to get my confidence back.
"After the disappointment of the School, I needed time to get my head together and matters weren't helped by the fact that I came down with a right dose of `flu. But there's no question of feeling sorry for myself. In fact I'm now ready to start turning things around."
