Scot Ross Drummond, 42 on Sunday, got the best possible birthday present - his life back - but, for Justin Rose, there was the realisation of how tough life as a professional can really be.
Drummond will return to the European Tour next year after topping the class yesterday at the qualifying school. Rose, the budding hero who decided he wanted to make a living from the game after his heroics at the Open as an amateur, missed out on qualif-ication and will now have to make do with invitations to the continent's major tournaments.
Twelve months ago, Prestwick-based Drummond experienced the ultimate pain in Spain, failing at the same San Roque venue to win back the tour card he had just lost. However, over the past six days, the veteran showed the qualities that can ressurect his career by outscoring and outplaying the other 180 hopefuls in the field in this unique 108-hole event.
Drummond finished on seven under par for his splendid efforts, the same mark as Henrik Nystrom, but his closing 72 was four shots better than the Swede and he collected the #10,000 winner's cheque. He confessed: ''I came here to get my card back and do as well as I could and have probably exceeded my expectations. I am delighted as I played solid all week.
''It is a difficult week for everybody. If you have been on the tour for a long time, it is tough to come back here, because in many respects you know what you are missing.
''I have had a whole year to prepare for this.I knew that if I didn't win enough money from the starts I had that I would have to come back here.
''In that sense, I probably resigned myself that I would have to go back to the school. Hopefully, I will get enough starts from finishing No.1 to play a fairly good schedule.''
His triumph guarantees a place in the Volvo PGA and probably entry to another 15 tournaments.
Rose must hope that his appeal is great enough to open doors. Facing the most important day of his fledgling professional career, 18-year-old Rose failed spectacularly to deliver. The hero of the Open shot 80, missed his card by nine shots and finished in seventy-third place 21 strokes behind Drummond.
Having missed eight cuts since joining the paid ranks immediately after his thrilling exploits at Royal Birkdale, he is now aware of the gulf between amateurs and professionals.
q Women's golf - P31
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