Bethpage momentum key to title defence

GOLF: Wallace changes focus after US PGA

Matt Wallace’s decision to look at the bigger picture has already paid dividends this season but it does not mean he will neglect the smaller events.

Having won three European Tour events last year, narrowly missing out on a Ryder Cup debut, the Londoner set his sights on the majors and other big tournaments this season.

The 29-year-old finished third at last week’s US PGA Championship, behind the world’s top two Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson, and he believes that has justified his change in focus.

“This was in the thick of it. Group out from the last, trying to get second place – that was the goal,” he said of his final-day experience at Bethpage.

“After two days, second place was my aim (Koepka had a seven-stroke, 36-hole lead).

“But now to say that I finished behind Brooks and DJ in a major really backs up my reasons why I wanted to change a few people in my team, to think of the bigger picture and perform well in the majors.

“I hadn’t done well in the big tournaments and that was important to me.”

Despite a shift in focus he remains committed to the events which gave him his leg up into the world’s top 25, and having flown in from Long Island he is looking forward to defending his Made in Denmark title at Himmerland Golf and Spa Resort.

Wallace, who less than four years ago was finishing fifth in a tournament on the Alps Tour to climb to 1,672 in the world rankings, believes it will help him challenge to be European number one this year.

“I’ll try to win the Race to Dubai now. I have a great chance,” said the Englishman, who was runner-up at the British Masters at Hillside earlier this month.

“That’s a goal of mine for sure. I have the best schedule possible and that includes a lot of European Tour events. This is the first time coming out to defend a tournament. Expectations are good.”

Compatriot Lee Westwood was runner-up in the play-off which Wallace won and he is looking to go one better this year.

The Worksop golfer is hoping to get his season going in Scandinavia, where he has won three times (all in Sweden), with just one top 10 in the six tournaments he has played this year.

The Scots in the field are Stephen Gallacher, Marc Warren, Liam Johnston, Grant Forrest, David Drysdale, David Law, Richie Ramsay, Robert MacIntyre and Scott Jamieson.

l Rory McIlroy has confirmed his participation in the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club in July.

Picture: Getty. Matt Wallace at the Made in Denmark pro-am.