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CONFIDENT: Matt Morris is hopeful he can be competitive when he tees off a Wentworth this week.

MATT Morris is relishing the prospect of pitting his wits against some of golf's top stars when he tees off at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth this week.

The 2007 Midland Order of Merit winner and professional at Bromsgrove Golf Club, recently enjoyed a practice round over the West Course with Irish hero and Ryder Cup winner Paul McGinley.

It proved to be a valuable experience, and Morris believes playing alongside the top players will allow him to raise his game.

He said: "I would much rather play alongside one of the top guys."

"They are all good. You can feed off their game.

"Look at Paul. He holed the putt that won the Ryder Cup (at The Belfry in 2002) and you can learn so much just from playing alongside him.

"It's the same when amateurs play alongside the likes of me really, they feed off what I do."

Morris is fully aware that in golf you are only as good as your last round, and despite the obvious differences in location he will take the first tee at Wentworth tomorrow (Thursday) full of confidence.

He finished third in the Nuneaton Pro-Am at the weekend, considerably better than his 20th place in the Ivobank UK Masters at Collingtree Park last week, where he closed at two-under-par after rounds of 72, 68 and 74.

Morris said: "I was not too disappointed. I had a good middle round (at Collingtree Park) and generally played OK in the last but I've been struggling a little bit with my swing over the past month.

"I hit a bad tee shot on the last. I had been mindful of the water down the side but wanted to get to the green in two so I went for it off the tee and just blocked it out of bounds and made eight.

"I've a couple of bad shots at the moment but am generally pleased with my performance.

"Mentally, I have been very good and just have to keep taking positives from my game.

"If I can get round making only a few bogeys in the last round I can be pleased.

"Around Wentworth, par will be a good score."

The Belbroughton resident said his move from Hatchford Brook Golf Club to Bromsgrove has helped settle his game.

After maintaining the form that carried him to the Order of Merit crown last year, with a couple of firsts and thirds in Winter Series events, he finished joint eighth at Wellingborough in the Glazerite Trophy, third in that tournament's Pro-Am and third in Craig Phillips' competition last Sunday at Nuneaton.

Those tournaments were relatively low earners, but Morris' form gives him hope for a big pay day this week.

He added: "The move to Bromsgrove has been great and although it is not as busy as I would like it is just five minutes from home and I get a chance to practice quite a lot.

"My ambition is to compete. Although I haven't played too well lately I am on my way back and if I can keep it on the fairways I think I can compete."

10:02am Wednesday 21st May 2008

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