Morrison set for tough test
English golfer James Morrison is about to be tested like never before - not even when he was playing cricket for England Youths with Alastair Cook and Tim Bresnan.
The 27-year-old ranked 236th in the world held a four-stroke lead over number two Luke Donald and Scot David Drysdale going into the third round of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
"I expect a lot, but if I shoot 80 or 65 I'll take what I can from it," said Morrison, who returned a spectacular 64 on Friday to be on course for a first prize of almost £600,000. I desperately, desperately, desperately want to keep going forward and that's my problem sometimes - I'm too eager, too keen, too determined I guess."
He has won on the European Tour before, but the 2010 Madeira Islands Open cannot compare to the circuit's flagship event close to his Surrey home.
It might be best if he does not think back to last year's French Open. He was joint leader there with a round to go - and went into water on the first two holes.
Morrison added: "I've been playing great, but getting in the way of myself. I'm going to do my best and that's all I can do."
Amazingly, he took up golf only at 16 and got down to scratch in under a year. That was 11 years ago, but he has no regrets about abandoning his cricket.
"I haven't really looked back," he said. "Playing golf is better than standing in the field all day."
The winner on Sunday earns an exemption into next month's US Open, but Morrison would turn it down.
He is due to become a father for the first time a fortnight on Monday and stated: "I wouldn't go, unfortunately - as hard as it would be to turn it down. I don't want to think what would happen if I went. Divorce comes to mind."
