GOLF has been a major part of Alasdair Hay's life in sickness and in health.

And now, with the latter at 100 per cent, he's hoping to win a place among Europe's elite.

Rewind back to the mid 1990s and the Royal Winchester assistant pro had just finished a four-year college scholarship in America and was playing on the Nike Tour - just one rung below the US PGA Tour.

Hay, now 34, also played on the Canadian Tour and gained a few starts on the US PGA Tour, slowly making his mark in the higher echelons of the pro game.

Then disaster struck as the Winchester resident explained.

"I had a motorcycle accident in 1999 and a serious arm injury curtailed my playing hopes," said the powerful hitter. "It was a sad time for me as I was just beginning to progress. The accident almost ended my career."

Soul-searching and a return to Britain for the Glaswegian followed in 2000, although the new millennium proved to be an unhappy time.

"When I returned I hated the game. I never wanted to play again and sold just about all the golf kit I had, but had to make a living so decided to undertake the PGA's three-year club pro course."

Stints in Derbyshire and latterly Alresford saw Hay duly qualify, but it wasn't until 2006 that he finally laid to rest the mental scars of the accident.

"I was given the opportunity to join Steven Hunter's pro shop staff at Royal Winchester in January of last year and things have gone forward from there.

"I reached the second stage of last year's European Tour Qualifying School but didn't get through to the final stage, although the process did at least get the accident out of my system once and for all and got the competitive juices flowing again."

Acknowledging his debt to head pro Hunter and the club membership, Hay said: "Steve has kicked me along.

"He's very keen for me to do well and has done everything to keep me playing when - in the days of tighter and tighter profit margins on golf equipment - I really should have been helping him in the shop.

"There's not many guys like Steve."

Allied to Hunter's enthusiasm and mentor-like encouragement, Hay will be taking aim for his Europro Tour card at a two-day qualifying school starting tomorrow at Bedford Golf Club safe in the knowledge that his costs are covered.

"Besides Steven's help, the membership of the club have been very supportive - one member very kindly sponsoring me this season."

While some might say time is against Hay, the player begs to differ, adding: "Golf is not like football where your career is usually over at 34. Thirty-four in golf is a good age and I'd just like to think that my best years are still to come.

"I have more experience than most of the players I'll be up against and the only pressure I'm under is that which I put on myself."

And despite all the set-backs, he refuses to compromise on his goals, adding: "Europro events will be a good dress rehearsal for bigger tournaments to come - to be able to compete in these is my goal.

"I'm fit and have a full year's run at it in 2007 and if I don't get full Challenge or European Tour status for 2008 I'll be miffed."

For James Rose's two-page golf round-up don't miss today's Daily Echo.