Englishman’s meteoric rise through the ranks

Matt Wallace, of England, holds the trophy aftef winning the Indian Open. Photo: Asian Tour

It was not that long ago that Matt Wallace of England was playing on Europe’s third tier golf circuit.
But he has subsequently made a meteoric rise through the ranks which included victory in the Indian Open last month for his second win on Europe’s main golf circuit, the European Tour.
His first win on the European Tour had been in the Portugal Open in May of last year.
Europe’s third tier golf circuit is the Alps Tour which Wallace played in 2016 when he racked up six wins — including an amazing five in a row.
Wallace had to survive a play-off with fellow Englishman Andrew Johnston, commonly referred to as Beef, to win the Indian Open.
Wallace entered the final day at DLF Golf and Country Club with a share of the lead and a closing 68 got him to 11-under, a total matched by Johnston after he had a final-round 66.
On the first extra hole Wallace hit a huge drive down the 18th and with Johnston laying up and seeing his birdie putt agonisingly lip out, the 27-year-old had two putts for the title after hitting a brilliant second onto the putting surface.
He rolled his first up to the side of the hole and tapped home to seal a second victory in 32 appearances on the European tour.
“I played great,” Wallace said.
“Ever since being three-over through eight at the start of the week, I’ve played some of the best golf of my life and to do it in that style at the end there capped it off.
“Beef (Johnson) really had a great round today because I was playing fantastic and thought I might have been a few more clear.
“I hit some really good shots and that play-off: I pumped it down there on the last and it went a long way and then a four-iron went even further than I thought it would so I was jacked up a bit. To hit two shots like that is exactly why I play the game.
“Beef’s putt on the last should have gone in and it’s just my day today.”