PHILIP WALTON shared his fellow professionals' disc taste for the Collingtree Park greens on which the British Masters ended in anti-climax on Saturday. But unlike those who walked out, proffering a variety of excuses, and those who joined the chorus of complaints about the state of the course, he pinned his faith in patience, and like new champion Robert Allenby, looked only on the bright side.
Allenby, winner of the English and French titles in June, was rewarded with his third victory of the season when he defeated Spaniard Miguel Angel Martin at the first extra hole. Walton ended as he began with a 71 to share ninth place alongside Colin Montgomerie and start the new Ryder Cup campaign as he finished the last, as Ireland's leading performer.
Allenby's four under par total of 284, which was 14 shots behind that achieved by Sam Torrance at the same venue 12 months earlier, reflected the deterioration in the quality of greens and sparked an unprecedented week-long storm of protest.
Ian Woosnam described them as the worst he had ever putted on, and Ryder Cup captain Seve Baltesteros reiterated his belief that Europe's top officials are sacrificing quality for quantity, and ignoring his pleas to use only the best courses. He called for a mass meeting of Tour professionals to thrash out the issues and select a new committee that will get the European Tour back on the right road.
But Allenby, the 25-year-old from Melbourne, stayed aloof from the passion and politics, and got on with the job of producing the best score he could. He was helped by being totally relaxed and feeling glad to be healthy after a week's holiday in Australia following the Czech Open.
Allenby went home to see his British-born parents, Don and Sylvia, and attend the funeral of Aids victim Matthew Fleming, to whom he dedicated this latest victory.
"He was a haemophiliac who [was given a dose of the wrong blood and he came close to my heart when he came to my cancer charity golf day last year," Al said.
What happened to Matthew was always in the back of my mind, so I was one of the few to take a positive attitude. As soon as "I saw the greens I told myself that if I was patient I would come through. I knew everyone else would be whingeing about them, but you just have to look on the bright side. After all we all had to play in the same conditions."
Allenby's opening 69 and two middle rounds of 71 had given him a one-shot lead going into the last round over Pedro Linhart. But the Canary Islander soon faded, and it was Madrid's Martin who mounted the surprise challenge. His closing 68 set the clubhouse target which Woosnam had a chance to equal when he came to the last needing an eagle three. Instead he took six after hitting the par five in two, then putting off the green, and needing a wedge for his fourth shot.
Martin suffered a similar fate in the play-off with Allenby when took four to get down from behind the 18th green, emphasising how much of a lottery the short game had been all week.
Costantino Rocca and Miguel Angel Jimenez, two of the strong men of Continental golf, filled the next two places, with Woosnam, who was fifth, the only other player to finish under par.
The Welshman is the first to top £500,000 prize money for the season.and now has a lead of just over £68,000 over Montgomerie. Allenby is in third place, having also exceeded the £400,000 mark.
Walton, whose wife Suzanne is expecting their third child, won £12,751 and the commensurate number of Ryder Cup points. It is a useful marker in the long haul towards retaining his place in the European Ryder Cup side, which plays at Valderrama next year.
Martin's 77,770 points and the 35,000 obtained by Jimenez underline the strength of the challenge emanating from the Spanish to secure places in the historic first Ryder Cup match in their own country.
Eamonn Darcy, who was 24th, won £7,140 for his five over par 93 while Raymond Burns won £4,200 for taking 43rd position, on 296.
David Higgins inched further towards securing his 1997 Tour card when he collected £1,540 in a tie for 64th. One more top-30 finish should see Higgins to his goal. The Waterville youngster now fills 107th place in the Volvo Ranking with £45,273 to his credit.
