Walker gets a taste for the big time

The TASTE is addictive, and Leslie Walker - now that he knows it is possible, on his day, to produce the goods - wouldn't mind at all if it became a regular habit playing week-in, week-out on the PGA European Tour. In his debut appearance in the European Open yesterday, Walker, a former British Boys' amateur champion who nowadays plies his skills on the Irish Region PGA Tour, had the distinction of shooting a four-under-par 68 to join Ryder Cup star Philip Walton as the leading home challenger.

Walker, a big-hitter who gives long driving exhibitions for Yonex, had a bogey-free round and, pragmatically, explained: "I don't have any pressures. I am not like one of those guys in X position on the money list who needs every penny to save his card. I don't have a tour card, yet, so I have nothing to lose."

He aims to remedy that. Although topping the Irish Region money list would give him a place in the European Tour school in Spain in November (he is currently second), Walker is keeping all his options open by competing in the Pre-Qualifying School I in Manchester in a fortnight.

The Foxrock assistant professional used his length off the tee to good effect, bridieing three of the four par fives: the seventh, where he wedged to 12 feet; the 13th, where he hit driver, two-iron to the green and two putted; and the 18th, where he was again on in two.

"I'm treating this as great fun. I'm under no pressure and I'm striking the ball well, so it would be nice to keep it going," he said.

Walton, meanwhile, had five birdies and a bogey in his round, and commented: "It is nice to get around a course of this stature with just one bogey. I'm playing well, and hopefully I can keep it going." The Malahide man's only blemish on his card came at the fifth hole, his 15th, where he three-putted.

Of the 18 Irish competitors, six of them managed to break par: Walker and Walton with 68s, Paul McGinley (69), Padraig Harrington (70) and Gary Murphy and Damien McGrane, who shot 71s. McGinley seemed destined to at least join the posse in pursuit of leader Colin Montgomerie when he stood on the 16th tee at four under par.

But McGinley took a double bogey six there, at the hole termed "Michael's Favourite", when he attempted to play a three-quarter sand wedge approach and sent it into the lake in front of the green. In fact, he did well to retrieve matters somewhat by finishing with a birdie at the last.

Meanwhile, Murphy, playing on a sponsor's invite, got to four under par after 12 holes, but let things slip over the closing six holes. "I had a chance to shoot five or six under and didn't take it," admitted Murphy, who was another player upset when warned for slow play.