MATT Blackey has a special affection for Wales. It was there five years ago that he enjoyed his proudest moment as a golfer winning the Welsh StrokePlay Championship.

So he hopes there will again be a welcome in the hills as he heads for the Celtic Manor Resort Welsh Open on Thursday desperately needing to revive his fortunes on the European PGA Tour.

Two top ten finishes in South America last March/April gave the Hayling Islander a flying start to the season and put over £30,000 in his bank account.

But he has earned precious little since. The Hayling Islander hasn't made a cut since the Portuguese Open at the end of April and when he tumbled out halfway through last week's TNT Open in Holland, it made it five missed cuts on the bounce.

"It can't go on,"says Blackey. "The daft thing is I'm playing well but not scoring well. It all comes down to my putting. I'm not just tucking away enough birdie chances."

The 30-year-old former Hampshire Open champion took a glance at his season's stats recently and noticed that almost every aspect of his play has improved since last year.

"My stroke average is about one better than it was this time last year," said Blackey, "but standards are getting higher all the time ands I do believe the cut mark has gone down a stroke this season.

"Last season I started well and had a lull in the middle then came strong again at the end so I'm banking on that happening again. It has to. I still have to earn £40,000 to avoid going back to earn my playing rights for next year and I believe I can still do that.

Blackey went into the 2001 season uncertain over his long term future in golf. But threats to give up tournament golf have long since been binned.

"I feel this is where my future lies, and even if I have to go back to Tour School I'll be far better equipped to handle it," he said. "I'm in a more positive frame of mind now."

Blackey is coached by Tim Barter at Botley Park where the Sky TV analyist is building up quite a stable. It is headed by Andrew Coltart who won the Great North Open recently and still has an outside chance of making the Ryder Cup, while regular Tour players David Park and Graeme Storm are the latest to enlist Barter's coaching services.