IN the long driving stakes, he's Ireland's answer to Tiger Woods. But Leslie Walker, a former British Boys' champion, revealed another side to his game when firings a new course record 63 in the Club Player Championship at The Curragh last week with one of the most remarkable rounds ever seen on the PGA Irish Region Tour.

The Dubliner had nine birdies in a round which still managed to eat up 30 putts. The round beat the previous record by four shots.

Foxrock's Walker consistently hits the ball 310 yards off the tee and stages around 15 long driving exhibitions in Britain each year for Yonex; however, he still entertains dreams of securing his PGA European Tour card. Appearances in the Murphy's Irish Open and Smurfit European Open this summer will provide opportunities to rub shoulders with the "big guns".

"My number one goal for this season is to win the Irish Order of Merit, but I would still love to gain my European card too," he says. "I have six opportunities to play on the European Challenge Tour this season, which I intend to take up, although I haven't yet worked out my schedule."

Walker won the British Youths title in 1986 - "It seems such a long time ago, now," he says.

These days he mixes his long driving exhibitions with appearances on the Irish Region and European Challenge Tour - along with the prized invites to the Irish and European Opens due to his top 10 placing on last season's Irish Region money list.