wall scaling new heights

By Ken Gaunt, PA Sport

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Anthony Wall was entitled to bask in the satisfaction tonight of finishing the top British player at the Open.

The son of a London taxi driver got his reward, not only for dedicated hours on the range but massive self-belief.

Wall, 31, saw his progress curtailed by a severe bout of glandular fever but returned to rude health and good form. His personal life also improved.

Wife Sharon and his two children take him back to what he calls the real world.

But after the final round of the Open, he could have been forgiven for being in a world of his own after closing with a 69 and a total of 280, eight under par.

Wall, who closed with a birdie, said: "It is sweet to have done so well after having three or four years of glandular fever, which was very nasty.

"The illness has not returned since 2002/03, although you always worry things like might come back.

"But it is all to do with adrenaline. I felt great out there. I played very solidly and my iron shots were good.

"To walk up the 18th in front of all those people and to get a birdie was even better."

Wall tried seven times without success to qualify for the Open.

But he got a ticket to the tournament two months ago when he sunk a 35 foot birdie putt at the last at the European Open to finish runner-up.

He said: "I was not aware until I walked off the green I was in the Open. It only hit me then - which was probably a good thing."

Wall is edging closer to a Ryder Cup place, although he accepts he may have to step onto the winner's rostrum to achieve that goal.

He said: "I always felt I was good enough to play at this level. Now I feel I have the technique to push me forward. My best years are yet to come."