Morgan benefits from Singh advice

With a putting tip from Vijay Singh fresh in his mind, England’s John Morgan could not wait to get going in the British Masters at the Forest of Arden today.

In fact, Morgan cannot wait to get going in any tournament at the moment because they have been few and far between so far this season.

After losing his US Tour card last year – despite winning over $400,000 (€328,000) – the 26-year-old has had to bide his time waiting for the chance to play. It has not been easy.

From three starts on the main circuit in America, Morgan missed the first two halfway cuts and on Monday finished 68th in New Orleans, while two starts on the “second division” Nationwide Tour have seen him miss the cut in one and withdraw after the first round from the other.

Now he plays on the European Tour under a special sponsor’s invitation before returning to the States to try to qualify for the US Open next month.

“I have been based in Miami, but I am looking to move at the moment,” he said.

“Miami is crazy and I don’t need crazy right now.”

With his blue-dyed hair Morgan is easy to recognise, but the dockworker’s son wants to be known for his golf rather than his image or the fact that he has suffered from epilepsy.

He hopes jet-lag will not be a problem this week. The fact that the HP Classic went into an extra day meant he did not arrive until Tuesday lunchtime and was glad to discover he was among the first round’s later starters today.

It was just before he played his final round on Monday that Morgan was helped by Singh on the practice putting green.

The day turned into a memorable one for the Fijian since he played the last eight holes in seven under to win his second-successive title by one, but Morgan hopes the time they spent together pays dividends.

“I don’t think there is anybody hitting the ball better than me, but my putting’s held me back.

“Vijay’s been great to me ever since I first met him and he told me to keep my head down. It worked on Monday and I hope it continues this week.”

These are still early days in Morgan’s professional career. He left the amateur ranks only two years ago, but decided to try his luck at the US Tour qualifying school only a few months later and finished a brilliant 11th.

He had two fifth-place finishes in America last year, but at 141st on the money list missed keeping his card by 16 spots and $65,000 (€53,000).

This is the first European Tour event of the season on British soil and many of the circuit’s biggest names have turned out for it.

Colin Montgomerie, Nick Faldo and Lee Westwood have been paired together for the first two rounds, Montgomerie making his first appearance since announcing last Thursday he and wife Eimear were separating and planning to divorce.

Darren Clarke, Retief Goosen and Paul Casey, eighth in the Masters last month, are among the other stars participating for the first prize of £266,660 (€393,000).