FORMER European Tour player Mark Litton is hoping to return to the big time with the help of Magnolia Park supremo John Walters.

The club, located near Brill, are sponsoring Litton at the opening European Challenge Tour event in Kenya which starts next Thursday.

Walters said: "I met him at one of our golf days, a pro-am. I thought he was an easy-going guy and a very good golfer. I've sponsored so many people in the past, I don't do it to make a profit.

"But I got a good feeling about Mark. He is getting married soon and I think this is the season that he has got to do it."

The Woburn golfer lost his full European card in 1996 and has been slogging it out in the Challenge Tour ever since.

But the 37-year-old feels he has never fulfilled his true potential and believes he can still deliver the goods. Litton said: "I've got a good five years left in me, so with a little bit of help and a little bit of luck, who knows.

"My main ambition is to get back on the tour next year. I can't do it on my own, though. It costs between £600 and £700 a week to play in the Challenge Tour."

He admitted it will be hard work to get back on the main tour. "If you took away the top 30 European golfers and swapped the remaining 100 with those on the Challenge, you wouldn't notice the difference," he said.

Last year, of the 15 players who went up, 13 retained their card.

In his time, Litton has played against the likes of Lee Westwood and Thomas Bjorn on the Challenge Tour, and competed against the then amateur Tiger Woods in 1996 at the Open.

Ten times since turning pro, Litton has tried to earn his playing card, but succeeded only twice.

The Welshman's best year came in 1995 when he won £49,547 to reach No 109 in the rankings. In that year, he finished joint third in the Italian Open behind Sam Torrance and Jose Rivero.

Then in the Challenge Tour in 1997, he collected £11,485 with victory in the Open Des Volcans.

The last few years have been a barren, injury-plagued time for Litton. But he is hoping to change all that with a new club.

MAGNOLIA Park is growing in stature and the club have ambitious plans for next season.

A Challenge Tour event is likely to be held there, and a major women's event or Senior Tour event could also be on the cards.

Story date: Thursday 02 March

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