GOLF / Diageo Championship: The next stage of Scott Drummond's sporting life starts today - when he sets out to show he can handle his new celebrity status. From the depths of 435th in the world and after seven missed cuts in his previous eight events, Drummond won the PGA Championship with a dazzling display at Wentworth two weeks ago.
After a week off to try to let it all sink in, the 30-year-old European Tour rookie returns for the £1.4 million Diageo Championship at Gleneagles.
"Yes, the expectation levels are higher from everyone," Drummond said yesterday. "But I am still me and I will just go out and do my best. Nobody wants to be a one-hit wonder. It would be lovely to follow that result with a nice performance here, but I'm trying not to put too much extra pressure on myself this week or the next few weeks to get another top 10 or anything like that."
In the Wales Open last Sunday Essex's Simon Khan, 255th in the world, beat Ryder Cup hopeful Paul Casey in a play-off. The shocks just keep on coming.
"Once one person has done it, it gives everybody that extra self-belief and they know it is not impossible.
"Everybody wants to win and people aren't afraid to win now - whether it's their first year or not, they know it can be done," said Drummond.
One event he can target now is, of course, the Ryder Cup in September.
"It is quite hard for me to comprehend at this stage, but I am in a great position now (13th in the race for the 10 automatic spots) and I am aware that if I can string a nice few steady results together there is a chance.
"I'd be foolish not to try to consider playing myself into the team and if I can play the same in the next few weeks as I did at Wentworth then I'd feel I'd have earned it if I get in."
With the US Open taking place next week the field is nowhere near as strong on the Monarch's Course as it was when he won.
In fact, 1999 British Open champion Paul Lawrie is the only player taking part who will also be at Shinnecock Hills on New York's Long Island. Lawrie plays the first two rounds with Colin Montgomerie, who will be missing his first major since the 1991 US PGA - the one John Daly won.
Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke will be among the big names absent from the tournament, with both taking part in this weekend's Buick Classic in New York.
Representing Ireland at Gleneagles will be Graeme McDowell, Paul McGinley, Peter Lawrie, Gary Murphy and Damien McGrane.
They will be joined by Philip Walton, who plays only his third European tour event of the season.
Walton no longer holds a tour card but an injury to Swede Klas Eriksson resulted in a call-up for the Dubliner.
