John E Morgan column
THIS month's adventures on the European Tour lasted precisely 28 holes which, when you need something ridiculous to retain your card, isn't that helpful. Anyone who knows me will confirm that I am probably the most accident-prone person in the world but this was good even by my standards.
The first round, a 74, wasn't great, but I was quite looking forward to day two as I was hitting it reasonably well.
I was just getting ready to catch the bus to the course when, as I was going to fetch my phone from the other side of the bed, I smashed my foot on the bed leg. As you do in these situations you tell yourself to walk it off and, for some reason, start to sing but after eight or so holes, which I had played in level, I realised I couldn't put any weight on my left side.
On the 18th tee, our ninth, I took my shoes and socks off and two toes were jet black.
I tried hitting shots off pretty much one leg, in truth I must have looked a bit odd spinning round after hitting it, and I did hit the par 5 in two - two of my better efforts of the week - but soon after had to withdraw. Within half an hour I was having my toes realigned by the tour specialists. The doctor asked me how much pain I was in, I replied quite a bit and he quickly diagnosed that they were both broken and he got to work on getting things back into place before patching me up and sending me on my way.
So that was my Austrian Open 2009.
That just leaves the Castello Masters in which to retain my card. I got the last spot in the tournament so hopefully there'll be some sort of Cinderella story at the end of the week as I need a win to do it. Needless to say this isn't the time to play safe, there are some big bucks needed, and if I do pull it off you can fully expect to see me go in the lake beside the 18th green butt naked.
Otherwise it will be back to the Qualifying School. I've been once before, three years ago, and if I learnt anything from a disappointing last couple of days it is to try and stay patient. If there is any tournament where there is time to put right any mistakes it is Q School.
If any inspiration was needed then the recent interview with Seve Ballesteros by Peter Alliss did the trick. However saddening it was to see him like that it was just brilliant to see him swing a club again and talk in such a positive way.
Like thousands of other youngsters Seve was always the main man for me.
He was the most flamboyant and colourful character on the course and you never knew what was around the corner. In my all-time golfing heroes he would be up there in the top two alongside Tiger. I remember playing at The Belfry for the first time in the old Benson and Hedges and, standing on the 10th tee, I could just picture his tee-shot around the trees with his old persimmon driver and high finish. The crowd, as they always did with Seve, just went nuts.
There was no way I was going to lay up having seen that. With the image of him flashing one on to the green I even managed to find the putting surface. I was never lucky enough to play with him but I did have one amusing encounter with the great man.
At the same tournament I was in the players' lounge with my mum and dad and auntie and we were having some food after the round when I spotted Seve. I went up and told him that I was with my mum and auntie and that they both thought he was gorgeous so would he mind having a quick word, preferably in Spanish.
A minute later, Seve snuck in between the pair of them, put his arms round them and made his acquaintance in his native tongue. You should have seen the look on their faces, they could barely get a word out. It was absolutely priceless and I feel very blessed to have met him.
** In 2003 John became only the second player to secure his card for both the European and PGA Tours in his rookie season. Last year he regained his playing privileges for the European Tour. John has suffered from epilepsy from an early age.