Golf: Russell is back on the rise after hitting rock bottom

RAYMOND RUSSELL found himself back at the bottom of the golfing ladder after losing his European Tour card but, taking one rung at a time, he's starting to climb again.

A few weeks ago, the Prestonpans man won on the Alps Tour, one of the third-tier circuits on the continent, and now he's starting to make his presence felt on the Challenge Tour, the next level up.

Russell led going into the final round of the Cotes d'Armor Open Bretagne last weekend and, while disappointed to fall one shot short in the end, he's definitely heading in the right direction once more.

"As much as I was disappointed with the way I played the front nine (he was three-over at the turn) in the closing round, I was delighted about the back nine," he reflected. "From the 14th tee onwards I wouldn't take a single shot or putt I hit back and, overall, it is another rung up the ladder for me."

As a Longniddry member, Russell enjoyed a glittering amateur career, winning the Scottish Youths' Championship in 1992 and, in 1983, playing in the same Walker Cup team as Padraig Harrington and Bradley Dredge.

After turning professional, he won the Cannes Open in 1996 and, two years later at Royal Birkdale, produced a brilliant performance to tie for fourth place behind Mark O'Meara in The Open.

The 37-year-old looked set for a lifelong career at the top end of that ladder only to see a shoulder injury that required surgery towards the end of 2006 put him back to scratch.

For the last couple of years, he has played mainly on circuits like the Alps Tour but, after his performance in France, Russell is hoping some doors will open for him on the Challenge Tour in the coming weeks and months.

"I'm tenth on the order of merit and definitely have a place in next week's event in Italy," he said. "It's easier asking for a place in tournaments if you are playing well and hopefully I can keep doing well.

"I honestly can't put my finger on what the big difference has been over the past few weeks. The only thing, I suppose, is that I'm not being as aggressive on the golf course.

"I was perhaps trying to push too hard and going at flags too much. I'm now playing a bit more conservative but am still averaging something like five or six birdies per round."

Reflecting on his injury, Russell added: "If you have a physical problem, you can deal with that. However, something like that can also affect you mentally because you lose your confidence and, for a spell, I was playing but not playing – I was going through the motions.

"I needed to change two or three things, one of which was the way I was thinking. I was back at the bottom of the ladder and needed to take baby steps – I've still got a long way to go to get where I want to.

"I would like to have a European Tour card again and I wouldn't be putting in the hours I am to try and get things right if I didn't think that was a realistic target."

Living these days in London – he moved there with his girlfriend and is based at Old Fold Manor near Barnet – Russell, who was coached by Bob Torrance for a long time, is now trusting his own instincts.

"The fact I don't have a coach at the moment has freed me up a bit," he said. "I'm working on basic stuff and the aim is to do things better. What I achieved in the past is irrelevant – it makes no difference to where I am trying to get at the moment."