Van de Velde battling back from the brink

EVERYBODY in golf wondered what would happen to Jean Van de Velde after what remains the most dramatic finish in British Open golf history.

Well, five years on from that traumatic day Van de Velde is at the Qatar Masters fighting for his European tour future.

Following two knee operations he was given seven tournaments to preserve his exempt status and today, at the sixth of them, he begins his bid for the top 19 finish and £10,000 cheque that will clear his path for the rest of the season.