David Carter, winner of the 1998 Irish Open, was one of a number of former European Tour Champions who had to take the trip back to the Qualifying School. In part four of our series looking at the class of 2003, we give you a background on Carter and four other players and hear what they had to say on graduating to The European Tour.
16. Chris Gane
After coming through the Challenge Tour Rankings in ninth place in 2001, the left-hander could not quite reproduce the same form on The European Tour in 2002, finishing 146th on the Volvo Order of Merit. He returned to the Challenge Tour in 2003, finishing 58th on the Rankings, but came through the Qualifying School, in 16th place. Playing left-handed has never been a problem despite the fact he does most things right-handed. Began playing golf as a 14 year old at Pinner Hill. Played little competitive golf as an amateur and had a four handicap when he turned professional at 18. Played in South Region and Surrey PGA events, winning the Surrey Assistants in 1998 and the Surrey Open in 2000.
"This is incredible - what a day, what a week! I shot a 75 on the first day and part of me was thinking that I had missed my chance but then I realised how far there was to go and played some great stuff for the rest of the week and managed to finish with a round of 65, I had a hugely disappointing year on the Challenge Tour but this makes up for it - this is where we all want to be. To come out in the top 35 of 168 players at the start of the week just has me shouting inside - I feel brilliant."
17. David Carter
Almost lost his life in Dubai in March 1997 when he required emergency brain surgery after collapsing in his hotel. Made a full recovery and completed his fairytale comeback to win his first European Tour title, the Irish Open, in 1998, beating Colin Montgomerie in a play-off, four years after he took his place on Tour after winning the 1994 Qualifying School. Son of club professional, Bryan - a Member of the European Seniors Tour - helped England to a first victory in the World Cup with Nick Faldo in 1998 on his way to 19th place on the Volvo Order of Merit, his best finish to date. Finished 87th on the Volvo Order of Merit in 2002 but 124th in 2003, meant a return to the Qualifying School after a decade.
"Playing 108 holes in one week, in these circumstances is very difficult. But I'm very happy to have kept my card and it's up to me now to keep a hold of it. I feel as though my game is coming back to form and hopefully I will get enough chances next year to ensure that I don't have to come back to the Qualifying School, because it is a week that no-one really wants to go through, but most of us have to at some stage in our careers."
18. Cesar Monasterio
Came agonisingly close to earning his card through the Challenge Tour in 2003 but finished one place outside the top 15 in the Rankings. Instead took the trip to northern Spain for The European Tour Qualifying School Finals and exacted "revenge" for missing out via the Challenge Tour route by graduating with the 18th card. Denied victory in the opening event of the 2003 Challenge Tour season when compatriot Sebastian Fernandez overcame a five stroke deficit on the closing nine holes before winning a sudden-death play-off for the the Costa Rica Open, presented by Credomatic MasterCard.
“I came here for revenge. I just missed my card through the Challenge Tour, finishing 16th, and was determined to make amends this week. It is a long way to come from Argentina and required a big effort so it means a great deal to get my card. This is the one Tour I wanted to play. Now I am looking forward to competing with the great European Tour players, particularly Eduardo Romero and Angel Cabrera.”
19. Mattias Eliasson
Started golf at age ten because his best friend played at Mark Golf Club in Kinna. His father, Gunnar, also played at the club. His coach is Anders Colstrup in Malmo while his biggest influence is European Tour winner, Anders Forsbrand. Played for Sweden as an amateur for seven years, during which he won the Leven Gold Medal in Scotland. Finished 24th on the Challenge Tour Rankings in 2001 but qualified for The European Tour through the Qualifying School Finals at San Roque where he finished 22nd. Disappointing year in 2002 saw him end 196th on the Volvo Order of Merit but he repeated his Qualifying School success at Emporda and Pals, improving this time to take the 12th card. Split his 2003 season between The European Tour and the Challenge Tour but did not finish high enough on either so had to return to the Qualifying School, where he claimed the 19th card.
“With all the pressure you encounter here I'm more than satisfied to have got through. I struggled in the fifth round but got it together for the final round. Every year on Tour you gain more experience. I've not yet made it at the highest level but I am getting better and better and can look forward to next season.”
20. Alan McLean
Born in Clydebank, Glasgow, raised in South Africa and currently residing in Canada, McLean is a well travelled Scotsman. One of the main reasons he maintains his Scottish nationality is to keep his dream of playing in the Ryder Cup alive. His first involvement in the game was around the age of eight, when he would caddie for his father in South Africa. He took the game up at boarding school five years later. Puts down Arnold Palmer as one of his greatest influences - "he was just a very charismatic yet humble guy. You can't put into words what he did for golf."
"I certainly enjoyed the Qualifying School experience a lot more this year than last year! But it is a very high pressure situation for one week and the guys who can hold it together are deserving of their places on Tour. It means a lot to me to have made it. It's always been my ambition to play in the Ryder Cup, and if I can just climb onto the Volvo Order of Merit early enough and keep playing well then you just never know."
