Tour News (posted 10th September 1998)

Ross Drummond given chance to retain Tour card

Press Association

Coventry, England - Scotland's Ross Drummond has been given a late chance to save his European Tour career in tragic circumstances

Christy O'Connor Jnr was due to have played in the One 2 One British Masters, starting at the Forest of Arden today, but
withdrew following the death of his 17-year-old son Darren in a car crash on Monday night.

The 1992 winner's place in the event was offered to Drummond, the 41-year-old who lost his Tour card last season for the first
time in 20 years.

He wrote to every sponsor asking to be considered for a place in their event and at the Standard Life tournament in Loch Lomond in July, he led at halfway and was lying third with a day to go before shooting a final round 80.

It dropped Drummond to 36th spot and earned him only £6,205. Had he held on to third place, he would have won over £50,000 and regained his card for next season.

He enters this week's £750,000 tournament lying 143rd in the Order of Merit with £27,445 and probably needs a top seven finish to secure a card.

The death of the youngest of O'Connor's three children has prompted fellow Irishmen Eamonn Darcy, Des Smyth and Philip Walton to withdraw as well.Their spots go to another Irish player, David Higgins, and Swedes Martin Olander and Ola Eliasson.