Crocked Ricky: I’ve been to hell & back
RICKY WALDEN has endured a year of hell – but can finally see light at the end of the tunnel.
The 35-year-old from Chester is a three-time ranking event winner and former world No.6.
But Walden’s career received a shattering blow almost a year ago when he suffered a prolapsed disc in his back while innocently picking up his young son. That saw him unable to practise for 11 months and he simply went through the motions at tournaments. But the current world No.23 is on the mend after specialist treatment and reached a first quarter-final for 14 months at last week’s Scottish Open.
Walden said: “I was honestly starting to think about what else I could do for a living. And that was difficult because I couldn’t think of anything.
“It has been hell, though you have to try to stick in there and be positive. But the truth is I have not been able to practise until the last month, so it has been about as bad as you can get.”