In our fifth series featuring the class of 2004, we introduce those players who graduated from 21st to 25th place at The 2004 European Tour Qualifying School Finals.
21. André Cruse
Defies medical opinion by playing golf with just two per cent vision in his left eye, which leaves him unable to see three dimensionally. Underwent six operations on each eye to try and cure his vision and was told by ten different doctors that he should not be able to play golf, never mind professionally. On top of that, he putts with one hand "about fifty per cent of the time because I practised it so often that it works a lot of the time. But you do get some funny looks from your playing partners!" Lists Gary Player among the great influences of his life "because he did so much for the game and for our country. Even through the apartheid era, Gary would get on planes and go places he really shouldn't have. He was a great example to us all."
"It is great to have finally done it after trying five times now. The Qualifying School Finals are different to anything else in golf. It is one of those weeks where you just have to go out there and show everything that you have got, because if you have bad week then it's a case of 'see you next year'. Getting the card is self explanatory really. It's the dream for me and I am really excited about next year."
The big hitting South African began the game to help rehabilitate his father who had undergone surgery and was advised to walk regularly to rebuild his fitness and strength. The 12 year old Titch was soon blasting the ball out of sight at home in Port Elizabeth and showing the kind of promise that would allow him to take the 22nd Card at the 2004 Qualifying School Finals - his first successful attempt out of four. Won the Skandia PGA title on the 2003 Challenge Tour and will certainly be one of the longest hitters on Tour this season.
23. Ian Garbutt
Took up the game at the age of eight, introduced by his father. Became a scratch golfer by 16, won the English Amateur Championship at 18, beating Gary Evans in the final. Been coached by Pete Cowen since the age of 14. Finished 15th on the Challenge Tour in 1995 after losing his card at the end of the previous season, mainly due to a 12 week absence caused by an appendix operation. Responded strongly in 1996, making full use of a sponsorship deal with his local dentist to capture the end-of-season UAP Grand Final and finishing Number One on the Challenge Tour Rankings. Retained his card comfortably in the subsequent six seasons on The European Tour before slipping to 139th in 2003. A full season on the Challenge Tour was unable to deliver a precious European Tour card but restitution was at hand when he claimed the 23rd card at the Qualifying School.
"It means a lot to get back onto the Tour after losing my Card last season. I'm looking forward to getting back out there and seeing what I can do because it is where we all want to be playing. I think that the Finals were at a great venue this season. It was a hard but fair test and I think that is shown in the quality of player who won Cards."
Ended a long journey to The European Tour when he claimed the 24th card from the Qualifying School Finals at San Roque. It had begun when his form on the Alps Tour was good enough for him to avoid Stage One before he came through Stage Two at Oliva Nova in a share of 17th place. Grew up in a house overlooking the Gardagolf course where his father Franco, who is still his coach to this day, is the professional. Golf is in the family as his uncle is also a professional in Brescia. Was born in Bergamo near to where his idol Costantino Rocca grew up. Knows the former Ryder Cup player well and has been the recipient of a lot of advice from him in his career. Likes to play all sports to keep fit.
"I have felt a lot of pressure this week, especially after I shot 79 in the fourth round, but the way I recovered was good and it pleased me. Every shot, every putt is important here and it takes a lot of concentration and is very physically demanding. But to get my European Tour card I would have done anything because it has been my dream since I was a child."
Found himself on the wrong end of one of the closest finishes in many years in the battle to keep automatic playing rights for The 2005 European Tour International Schedule. Going into his final event of the 2004 season, the Open de Madrid, he was in 114th place on the Volvo Order of Merit but, having missed the cut, he had to watch agonisingly as Richard Sterne, Wade Ormsby and Robert Karlsson all passed him, moving him out of the crucial top 116 into 117th place. Amazingly, Karlsson, who finished second from last in Madrid, pipped him to 116th place by only €13.57 (£9.39). To his great credit, he recovered from the disappointment and regained his card through the Qualifying School. Burst on to The European Tour by coming from five strokes behind to win the 1999 Heineken Classic just 18 months after turning professional.
"I needed to come here and get my card back. After Madrid, I really didn't feel like playing golf at all and I was actually thinking of not coming, but then I thought otherwise, and that that was not the right thing to do. Hopefully I can now turn the corner. I can grasp hold of what I have done here and take it into the start of the 2005 season."
