Wakefield trying to get over Open nightmare

Shropshire's European Tour golfers were today making an early impact at the SAS Masters in Stockholm.

Shrewsbury's Scott Drummond was putting his poor season behind him by playing the first 15 holes in one-under-par in windy conditions to lie just two shots behind the lead shared by Peter Fowler and Nick Dougherty.

Shropshire border golfer Simon Wakefield found himself at level par with four holes to play.

The Gnosall player was returning after a three-week break, still smarting from the way the best week of his golfing life ended on such a sour note.

With nine holes to play in The Open at Royal Birkdale the 34-year-old was one off the lead and in with a great chance of making his first European Tour victory the biggest one imaginable.Defending champion Padraig Harrington, of course, was the one who rose to the occasion magnificently, but while the Dubliner will long remember the eagle three on the 17th that sealed it Wakefield took away rather different memories of the same hole.

Wakefield, however, has been receiving messages of support - including one from pop star Robbie Williams.

"I've been waking up feeling sick about it," he said, painfully recalling the triple bogey eight which meant he tumbled to 19th place.

"I was dumbstruck. I still can't believe nobody found my ball. You don't lose a ball at The Open, but then the next one hit somebody and went out of bounds.

"It was just so frustrating and it was horrific driving home that night, but I've had so many lovely letters and cards and there are lots of positives I can take from the week too.

"Even Robbie Williams tried to get in touch with me.

"He rang my old number, though, and when I was told he'd called I rang a number in Los Angeles and he wasn't in.

"It's great to know that somebody as famous as him was paying attention to what I was doing."