For the first two days he was well up the leaderboard after an opening round when he Wilson played beautifully through the first 14 holes with birdies at the second and ninth, only to drop shots after loose drives off the tee at consecutive holes 15 and 16.

And, with a further dropped shot at the last, it spoiled what had promised to be a brilliant day.

A level par 71 on day two left him well in the hunt for the big prize at one over par.

Involved

Playing just in front of the stellar group of Tiger Wood, Phil Mickleson and Adam Scott for the first two rounds he said: “It’s nice to be in that position, because when there are so many people around, it feels as if you’re involved in the tournament.

“Having the opportunity to watch the three best players in the world hitting shots into places that they shouldn’t have been, gives you confidence.”

But as the US Golf Association started to toughen the pin positions over the final two days, a round of three over par in round three left him off the pace.

Paired with Davis Love III in the final round, he shot a five over par 76 to lover 78 to take a share of 36th place.

Elusive

After a week in which he held his own amongst the world’s best players he takes a week away from golf before returning to action in his quest for that elusive first tournament win.

l The in-form Ricky McNeil won Coxmoor’s Presidents Putter with a nett 67 off 7, one clear of Brian Hancock with Keiron Nelson’s nett 69 taking third.

Fred Long shot a nett 67 off 13, for a three stroke win in the Herbert Veteran Trophy, with John Woolley in second on nett 70 on a count back from Tony Porter.

Zandra Alexander returned a nett 78 to win Division One of Coxmoor’s Ladies Medal with Pat Armstrong carding the best gross score.

Emily May Hall’s nett 68 won Division Two by eight from Sharon Price.

l Paul Wathey and Andrew Morton won the Norwood 18 Vase at Norwood Park after a three way countback from runners-up Alan Woodcock and James Gallinger with Adrian Sawyer and Tony Holmes in third all, three with nett 65s.

Captain’s Day

Josh Reynolds won the Captains Day event with a total of 42 points. Division One went to Glynn Brown with 41 - three better than runner-up Lee Molloy.

Division Two was won by Glen Barker on the back nine from Paul Inman and Gary Loughran, all three carding 40 points.

l Saturday saw Brierley Forst Golf Club hold a very successful Invitation Day with two events within the one event to allow people playing with official handicaps and ‘others’ to compete for two sets of prizes.

Honours

In the competition for players with handicaps R. Smart and P. Keely took the honours with Aaron and Dec Hopkinson in second place and S. King and P. Marsh in third.

Winners of the Non-Official Handicap competition were Shane Webster and J. McCormack followed by S. Ballentine and partner.

Longest drives came from G.