Woosnam proves he is not quitter

NOBODY should ever have dared to question Ian Woosnam's resilience, least of all himself. His rebirth as a tournament winner may have taken slightly longer than anyone envisaged, but an analysis off, "his professional career, which is into its 20th year, is enough to confirm that the Welshman was never, likely to remain away from the winner's enclosure forever.

After all, Woosnam became the first European player to win £1 million worldwide in a single year 1987 and victory in the Johnnie Walker Classic in Singapore on, Sunday was his 37th worldwide, and his 29th success on the European Tour.

Also, up to last month, he was, one of just five players who had figured in the top 50 of the world rankings since its inception 10 years ago. He had also won at least one, event on the circuit for nine years until last season's temporary hiccup. So, a man who has demonstrated such consistency (second only to Bernhard Langer) and hunger to win, ever since securing his first Tour victory in the Swiss Open in 1982, doesn't suddenly become a loser.

Two months ago, Woosnam talked loosely of packing away his clubs and reverting to easy living on the tax free haven of Jersey. But he ended a 16 month barren spell when winning in Singapore and will now seek to emulate Fred Couples's feat of 12 months ago by recording back to back wins in the opening two tournaments of the European Tour when he competes in the Heineken Classic in Perth this week.

Four Irishmen Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley, Ronan Rafferty, and Raymond Burns will be among the limited European invasion force that joins Woosnam for the first ever "official" European. Tour event to be held in Australia. However, the reality is that it is a joint venture with the Australasian Tour which is why Europe's contribution is limited to 60 in the 156 strong field

When Woosnam decided to opt out of the Welsh team for last November's World Cup in China "You're better off without me," he told colleague Mark Mouland at the time he felt that a back injury, which had shortened his drives by up to 50 yards, was a long term and potentially terminal problem.

"I was thinking if my back was like that for the rest of my life I didn't want to play," he said. However, Woosnam's swing was subsequently analysed for a television programme called Peak Performance and, when he studied it, he saw that it bore little resemblance to the one he used when capturing the US Masters in 1991.

"I couldn't swing properly because my back was 50 stiff, but that programme helped me to see what I was doing. I've made an adjustment to my stance now and I've got my rhythm and power back," said Woosnam.

But he could never be described as a quitter. This is a man who needed three visits to the European Tour qualifying school in the mid 70s before securing his card a man who has played in six Ryder Cup campaigns, and a man who has played for his country in II World Cups.

Woosnam's win in Singapore has propelled him back to 36th spot in the world rankings and re invigorated him. So much so that he has set his sights on another US Masters green jacket.