Wallace Booth back but not fully fit for card bid

THE pressurised arena of the European Tour's qualifying school is hardly the best event for easing back into competitive action after a long lay-off, but Wallace Booth has no choice as he attempts to kick-start a pro career that has been stalled by injury.

The 25-year-old, who joined the paid ranks after last September's Walker Cup, has not played for nearly five months due to a niggling, and complex, neck and shoulder problem but the Comrie rookie will make his return in stage one of the q-school over the demanding Dundonald Links in Ayrshire today.

Booth, part of Scotland's Eisenhower Trophy-winning team of 2008, does not have a category for any circuit and the need to gain a foothold in the pro game has hastened his comeback. "My physio gave me the go ahead to play this week but I'm not sure he would have had it not been the tour school," admitted Booth. "He realised how important it is for me – I have to give it a shot."

Booth forms part of a mixed bag of 25 Scots for the 72-hole contest and will be joined in the field by amateur Jordan Findlay, rookie Paul O'Hara and hardy q-school perennials like Scott Henderson and Jason McCreadie.