Ross McGowan moved to the next level last weekend with a magnificent victory in the Madrid Masters.

We chatted at The Open in Turnberry and I set what I considered a realistic goal and that was to finish in the top 30 on the European Tour order of merit.    Well he’s done that quite comfortably and now I’d like to see him press on and enter the world’s top 50.

Ross moved to just outside the top 100 in Madrid and if he continues his rich run of current form, joining the big league could come before the end of the season.

I’m sure that Ross will acknowledge that one of the big reasons his form has been so consistent is the help he receives from caddy Matt Harbour.  Matt is very thorough with his preparation, is well up on statistics and looks like forming a very successful partnership.  I don’t think it will be long before they are congratulating one another on the last green.

Another enjoying a profitable autumn is Gary Lockerbie, who finished top 10 in Spain and as he says is ‘making his fitness tell’.  Well, I haven’t seen him in the gym while I’ve been having one of my sessions lately so I’ll have to take his word for it.

Now it’s time for Portugal and I think we are in for another good week.   Darren Clarke won’t have enjoyed missing the cut last week after an encouraging Dunhill Links so he may be one to watch out for in the Algarve.

We’ve now had seven victories this season and three in the last four.  I will not be at all surprised if we add to that tally in the next few days.