Fighting Irishmen Philip Walton and David Higgins have vowed to battle on next season.

Former Ryder Cup hero Walton and Waterville swinger Higgins made it through all six gruelling rounds at the Qualifying School in Spain last a week, but failed to clinch their cards.

But while Walton still believes the old magic will eventually return, Higgins has admitted that he will start to use a sports psychologist.

Said Higgins: "These days everyone has a coach and a psychologist and while I've always had a swing coach I've never had someone to help me with the mental aspect."

Higgins admits that he needs help after blowing a big chance to secure his card at the Telefonica Spanish Open at the end of October.

The 28 year old fired a sensational second round 62 but then crashed to a final round 75 for a share of 25th place. He ended up in 128th place in the Order of Merit, 13 places outside the last qualifying berth.

"It was great to be up there in Madrid anad know I can produce the scores but I wasn't used to being in that position going into the final round and when I had a bad start I just lost my way. That's inexperience and a mental thing and a psychologist might help me along."

Walton will only play about 12 to 14 events on tour next season. He says that might be enough for him to make enough money to regain his card. "I'll give it another go next year," Walton said. "I'll play 12 or 14 tournaments and all I need is one good finish. That's all it takes. I still have a lot of good golf left in me. It's a question of confidence and hard work"

Malahide man Walton played in 15 European Tour events in 2001 but only made the cut in eight of them. The 39 year old had his best finish in the Sao Paolo Open in Brazil early in the season where he picked a modest IR£8,000 for fifteenth place.

Higgins got back on tour the hard way last season when he won twice on the Challenge Tour to finish second in the Money List and regain his card.

But the former Irish amateur champion admitted that his poor start to the season but him under too much pressure.

"I was struggling after starting so badly and that made it even harder to play well. I played better towards the end but by that stage it was really hard because when you're not getting the results it's not a lot of fun," Higgins said.

Managed by Chubby Chandler's ISM Group ­ the same stable as Paul McGinley, Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood ­ Higgins will still get plenty of chances to shine next season.

He added: "I hope to play in at least 15 events on the main tour plus a few Challenge Tour events. It's hard to talk about losing my card now but I'm not going to stop or give up golf or anything."

In fact, Higgins' 2002 season starts tomorrow (Sunday) when he heads out to the Hong Kong Open.

"After that I'll play in the events in South Africa in the first week of the new year so there really isn't any kind of a winter break this season."

But with opportunities few and far between for the Irish pair next term, they will have to produce something special to get back into the big time.

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Drogheda's Des Smyth is thinking about joining the US Seniors Tour.

The twice-capped Ryder Cup player will be eligible to compete in the US Seniors' Qualifying School this time next year, at the age of 49.

Smyth (48) played brilliantly in the UBS Warburg Cup at Kiawah Island last week, winning all three of his matches for Gary Player's Rest of the World side.

Former Ryder Cup rival Larry Nelson even told Smyth that he would be an asset to the US Seniors' Tour. "It could be a considerable boost if I end up on the seniors' tour over there."

"You can now earn a place in the tour school when you're 49, which you could pick up when you turn 50," he said. "In my case, that will be February 2003 and I'll be giving it serious thought in the months ahead."

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Golf legend Seve Ballesteros will be honoured at the Irish PGA Centenary dinner in Dublin next Tuesday (27 Nov).

The swashbuckling Spaniard will be at the Burlington Hotel to accept the "International Player" award in person.

Seve won the Irish Open in 1983, '85 and '86 and he will be hoping for another win back here next April when he leads Continental Europe against Great Britain and Ireland in the Seve Trophy at Druids Glen in April. Michael Hoey, Alison Coffey, John Dwyer, Mary McKenna, Joe Carr and Michael McHugh will also receive awards.

The winners of the "PGA Teacher", "Club Professional" and "Tour Professional" awards will be announced on the night.

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© Brian Keogh 2001

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