Wood gets help from the stars

Chris Wood is lining up a decent golfing future for himself after two Top 10s

Bristol golfer Chris Wood is being helped by Ryder Cup star Darren Clarke as he settles in on the European Tour.

The 21-year-old finished fifth at this summer's Open at Royal Birkdale as an amateur and subsequently turned pro.

And, after another top 10 finish at the Portugal Masters last weekend, he told BBC Radio Bristol: "Darren Clarke has been a good help to me giving me tips.

"I can just text him when I want, give him a call and go out for dinner. And another of my mates is Rory McIlroy."

Wood's ambition now is to win his European Tour card for 2009 next month at Tour School in Spain.

He topped the leaderboard at the first phase of the Tour Qualifying School when he shot a 17-under-par total of 271 at The Oxfordshire in September.

The second stage is in Jerez from 5 to 8 November. And the final stage is the following week when there will be 30 cards on offer over six gruelling days at PGA Golf de Catalunya (13-18 November).