History does matter, even in these days of a fashion or a trend being around for barely a few months, sometimes a year. The players of the European Tour like familiarity, the course, the hotels and the region - and the sponsors. For Sir Terry Matthew, the pinnacle of his commitment is there for 2010, the Ryder Cup. His patience, notably with the weather, has been exemplary and his commitment to the Celtic Manor Wales open has seen prize money double over the first five years of the Championship.

The rewards? A field that has improved in quality year on year. Crowds that grow and grow, golf watchers who make the most of a course designed, in part, to make watching the game as good a sporting experience as is possible. There will be three times as many people per day at the 2010 Ryder Cup but this is a 21st century Tour venue and if 'Tiger' does come (as Sir Terrance has said) expect the Celtic Manor Wales Open to be one of THE premier Tour events by say 2007 or 2008, with crowds to rival even the spectating specials in the deserts of the US early on in each golf season.

What will happen to Wentworth Hills overall is not yet decided, apart from the changes to the finish which will take away the climb back to the golf academy and the present clubhouse. What is a matter of conjecture is how much the course will be 'toughened up'. This year, lots of rain in the previous week had left the course and the greens soft, but there was no complaint from the field as many players commented on how much had been done to remove any grain from the greens. These were greens for low scoring.

High up on the 1st day leaderboard were Colin Montgomorie (67), each week looking more like his 'old' Order of Merit winning form - at least for a round or two - Marcel Siem, he of prodigious hitting (in a 66), and a host of 68s from David Carter, Robert Karlsson, Stuart Little and Mikko Ilonen.

The leader was David Howell, already a Tour winner and a player who looks very much like he will win again. Howell's 65 showed what could be done and his card reflected the scoring patterns that most followed - making their rounds on the first 9 then holding one on the climb back up the hills.

Defending Champion Ian Poulter was not able to reproduce his start from 2003 (a 71) but as a star attraction Poulter shows obvious pride his performance. Year on Year more big names have joined the field at the Celtic Manor Wales Open. This year it was Paul Casey, chasing a final batch of Ryder Cup points to assure him of his place on the flight to the US in September. His opening round was 69, a score marred by a 5 at the par four 15th.

Of Warwickshire interest, only Paul Broadhurst seemed to have any hope of making the cut after a level par 72. Tom Whitehouse was one shot behind Steve Webster on 76 whilst Jamie Elson could only manage a 77.

Day 2

Today was one of scoring fireworks but to save the best till last, our players provided no response of the likes of the new Championship leaders and for anyone looking for a home bred player to take the Wales Open, Philip Price and Ian Woosnam both made the cut, the Home Club Pro David Park was back (and going home) on +7. The best placed Welsh player was Stephen Dodd.

On 151 - Steve Webster

'I was terrible, useless, I struggled all day. I played quite good yesterday started well today.

I just need to keep practising, and will take next week off go and see my coach.

'I just hit bad shots at the wrong time and I didn't take my chances. Have Dave (McNeilly) as my caddie was for last week only.'

Tom Whitehouse shot 147 (76 + 71) and he was much more bullish about his play

'That was the best I have played all year. It could have been a 63 - the greens were a problem.

'I changed my grip last week and its uncomfy at times but it makes so much difference to my game - I played much stronger shots.'

Tom had a number of chances and with a slow start to his first year on the European Tour, he is looking to be as positive as he can now he is much more happy with his swing -

'I am going to Gleneagles to play up there (in the Diageo). If I play well up there I have every chance.'

Monty (with a 68), Peter Lawrie (with a holed second at the 10th), Steven Jeppesen and James Kingston all made respectable moves up the leaderboard to -8 and to -9 for Monty. None of this was quite good enough.

At 7.40am Simon Khan stepped onto the 1st tee of Wentworth Hills. Around 100 minutes later he was leaving the fifth hole 6 under par and whilst there had been virtually no-one around when he teed off, he could not miss the streams of people and the TV camera crews that were rushing towards him. About the same time Paul Casey was starting his round which always looked like catch-up - if Khan continued his progress towards something very special.

So what were the two players thinking of as they played their second rounds?

Casey - ' My round was down to chasing Simon today. I have been in that position before. It takes your mind off what you are shooting - you just have to get your name up their on the leaderboard.'

Khan - ' I was pretty relaxed all day really. I have a new putter this week and have been working hard with that - I just thought that if I could get my ball striking better and hit my irons better (which is normally my strength), then I could have a chance.'

Casey - on the difference between his 69 and today's 63 - 'There were a couple of poor putts yesterday. I would say 95% of my round was pretty good yesterday but I didn't really finish it of.'

Khan - 'The cameras and stuff were great, really good encouragement and everyone was pushing me on.'

What Khan did after the 5th was to make three more birdies to turn in 27, nine under par. He added another red number at the 11th with an 80 yrd pitch to five feet, a shot which put in sight a 59 - around a course which is just 21 yards short of 7 400.

Casey - on being right in contention - ' Its been nice. I haven't been that focused the last four week or so but the last two days have been very good. I have kept my head on my shoulders nicely

On the 61 from Khan - 'This doesn't strike me as a possible low round course. If Sir Terry sees this he might put in some more hills or something. I think (Khan's) 61 is very impressive and he should be patting himself on the back.'

Day 3 - Moving Day

There were only two people who were making winning moves - Khan and Casey. This became a two man battle very quickly, watched by more record crowds in very warm conditions and for the newly changed shirt sponsorship for Khan, meant playing the last two rounds in a slipover so as to retain a logo from a general sponsor as well as promoting Polo Ralph Lauren. Would he keep cool under the pressure and the wool?

If any European Tour player hits all 18 greens, its something special (bear in mind the huge length of this course). Its nothing like shooting 61 but on rolling and swirling putting surfaces which can be three or four clubs long, no three putts make you think of a pretty good score. With a total of 28 putts and you have Casey's 63. Casey was more than pleased with his 65 today which featured just 13 greens hit but only 25 putts courtesy of two chip ins. It would put him in with a real chance (a three shot lead) of achieving more than another Tour win.

'I have a goal, from the Deutsche Bank to after the Open to pick up another 500 000 Euros - not to try and do it in one week. I have got to do well this week to spread the pressure out. That's still the goal and if I can take a sizeable chunk this week it will help.'

What those round stats belied was two bogies at 12 and 13 which made the chasing pack's lives very slightly easier and a day's play which had another quick start - five under after five.

Casey was at -19 and Khan could only shoot a 70 for -16 - 16 greens in regulation but 33 putts showing how a Tour Pro not only hits the ball miles but also possess the touch of a genius to make a low 60s score. Casey could have felt comfortable but for Khan just three shots back, and for Khan the hours spent on his putting had left him two shots clear of James Kingston. In 4th place, Worcestershire's John Bickerton with a 63 - from an early start time.

Khan was not though thinking about a place -

'Paul played great today but I am still in touching distance and you never know what can happen tomorrow. Paul is in the driving seat but anything is possible. I got a good feel for it being in the last group today and if I can get straight into it tomorrow then who knows.'

Day 4 - The winner is?

How do you win a Tour event? A bogey at the first needs a birdie reply (which Paul Casey duly got). You don't make anything until around the turn, when your lead has been cut to just two shots. A couple of birdies does very nicely, especially when your nearest challenger makes an error so that your lead is four with just seven to play. That's where the story begins ...

Casey took five at the 12th only to then reply with a wonderful approach to the 13th. Khan was thinking about winning when he answered with his own birdie there and followed it up with another at the short 14th.

'I was so intent in just trying to play my own game today and just not trying to think about what Paul was doing', said Khan.

When Casey pushed his drive way right at 15 and could only wedge back to the fairway, Khan found the green which Casey did not. Three putts from Casey and the pair were tied.

Casey parred the next two to find himself one back after a Khan 3 at the 16th and when it came down to the final putts on the 18th, it was birdie chances for both with Casey from 8ft and Khan from 7ft. Casey made his, Khan's rolled by on the right.

'I have heard people say that it is a difficult thing to hole a putt to win and I found that out today. That was probably the most nervous I have ever felt over a putt on the 72nd hole but anyone can miss a putt.'

The first play-off hole was the 18th which was halved in fives and the pair returned to the 18th tee. Casey this time missed the green way right and Khan put his approach to just four feet from the hole in three. Casey needed two goes to get his ball to five feet and then missed that putt, leaving Khan to take the first prize and see security for at least the next two years of his Tour Career.

'It hasn't sunk in yet', said the player whose inspiration was watching Seve play golf when he (Khan) was just 12 and for whom the least three years have not been all spent on the golf course in an effort to support life on Tour - taxi driver and roofer are just two of the jobs that Khan took on in his quest to become a winner .... which he very much is now.