Keith Nolan is prepared to go through hell for the fifth time to get his US PGA Tour card.

The 28 year old from Bray may have failed at the US Qualifying School this week but that's not going to stop him trying again and again.

After coming through two qualifying stages to make the School finals in Florida, Nolan's hopes ended with a double bogey six at the 105th hole of the six-round test. All Ireland was rooting for him as live radio informed golf fans that the former Irish Amateur champion was teetering on the cut-off mark, in 35th position, with six holes to play.

When his six iron approach found the water at the par four 15th, it was all over for Nolan. He missed his card by three shots and will now play in the low-profile BUY.COM Tour next season instead. But while the rest of the country went back to their daily routines, Nolan was left facing a lonely 700-mile drive back to his wife and daughter in Knoxville, Tennessee.

"I drove 13 beautiful hours," said Nolan this week. "I got home at 5.30 am. I had a lot of time to think about my final round."

Nolan started the final day in joint 20th position at 16 under par. With the top 35 and ties getting full status on the US PGA Tour next season, he need a sub par round final to be sure of making it.

And it was looking good for him after three holes when he stated par-birdie-birdie to get to 18 under and move into the top 15. But instead of cruising to the finish Nolan found his game started to desert him.

"I got off to a great start. Two under after three, but then I moved into a tougher stretch of holes. I wasn't hitting it as well as earlier in the week, so my putter kept me in the game. No explanation, it was jut one of those things," he explained.

Bogeys at the 5th, 8th and 13th outweighed a lone birdie at the par five 12th and suddenly Nolan needed to cover the last five holes in one under par to get back into the top 35.

The difficult par four 15th proved to be a watery grave for Nolan who ended up replaying the shot in his head for most of the long trip home.

He recalled: "I had 171 to the hole into a left to right wind. I came up out of a 6 iron and it hit the bank and dropped back into the water. Two more feet and it may have gotten to the green. I hit a bad shot at the wrong time.

"Now I am just thinking of trying to play to my ability, if I do that then I will do okay.

"I gained an awful lot of confidence in the last three weeks. Getting through school like I did. I was 29 under for three stages and could not manage to get my card. I am disappointed because I was in position but I couldn't close the deal."

In the first stage in Texas, Nolan finished 10 under par for fourth place to clinch one of 20 places for stage two at nearby Kingwood golf club. Again, Nolan came up with the goods, shooting rounds of 72, 71, 71and 69 to finish ninth on five under.

It meant a fourth trip to the school in as many years for Nolan. The 1997 Walker Cup representative turned professional and won his PGA Tour card for 1998, lost it and then regained it at the end of 1999 before losing it again last year.

That meant that Nolan had to spend a year in the doldrums, pre-qualifying for BUY.COM tour events before getting a chance to get back on the big tour this week.

"It was a very humbling experience not having a tour card somewhere. It only makes me appreciate even more what I have," he said. "I never got complacent when I had my card. I just was not good enough to keep it. But hard work has changed that I hope."

Money will be hard to come by on the Buy.Com tour but Nolan isn't worried. "There is money to be made on the Buy.com tour, however it pales in comparison to the big tour. I have no deals as of yet, but I am always open to offers.

"Fado, The Irish Golf Trust have been great to me, hopefully I can continue those relationships. I have been playing TaylorMade equipment since this summer, I do not see any reason to change now."

Older and wiser, Keith Nolan is no going to give up his Tour dreams without a fight.

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Hoey to meet Woods and Clarke

Michael Hoey is set to meet up with Tiger Woods and Darren Clarke in California next week.

And the 21 year old Belfast boy is hoping to play a practice round with the World number one before the $ 4 million Williams World Challenge at Thousand Oaks.

The tournament is run by the Tiger Woods Foundation and Hoey will have dinner with Woods, Clarke and ISM boss Chubby Chandler before the event.

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Hoey plays Augusta with pal

Michael Hoey gave pal Johnny Foster an early Christmas present this week ­ a round of golf at Augusta.

As Amateur champion, Hoey is allowed to play Augusta at any time. And he used his influence to get Ballyclare man Foster to join him for a game on Wednesday.

Foster and Hoey have been getting in their winter practice at courses around Georgia. International Foster is set to play in the Juan Carlos Tahilade alongside Justin Kehoe in Argentina next week.

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McGinley to play US before Masters

Paul McGinley will prepare for his Masters debut in April by playing six events on the US Tour early next year.

"Playing in the Masters is such a wonderful milestone in my career, that I want to be sure I'm properly prepared," he said. "The indications are that I will play six or possibly seven events in the US, starting on the West Coast Swing and including my first visit to Sawgrass for the Players Championship."

McGinley gets into The Player's Championship at Sawgrass as well as the Masters after moving into the top 50 in the world rankings this year.

The 34 year old Dubliner who was ranked 72nd in the world in February, is now ranked 37th.

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© Brian Keogh 2001

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