The popular name for them is rescue clubs, versatile instruments that many of the top professionals (remember Todd Hamilton putting from miles off the green to win the 2004 Open with his?) have in their armoury.

Paul Broadhurst popped one in his bag here yesterday. His 2-iron, he has concluded, has become a "wasted club" and the new tool, also known as a utility club, is the nearest equivalent.

Its effectiveness he thereupon tested on the practice range. He hit perhaps a dozen balls, one of them was slightly off the radar, the others found a superb trajectory on a gentle right-to-left curve and I didn't see the end of them but they all cleared the 200-yard marker by a distance.

Would the club stay in his bag for the British Masters which starts this morning? It might be, he replied; he wasn't sure. But that's Broadhurst, arguably the most self-critical pro on the Tour.

"I'm not happy," he said. "And I never have been in 30 years."

But this, in the opinion of one practised Broadhurst interviewer, was pure Broadyspeak. He was trying very hard to be sombre when clearly he was not. "I played some really good golf in Italy last week," he said.

The smile that arrived after winning the Portuguese Open last month just won't go away and nobody has to remind him that the British Masters is a tournament that he can do very well in.

He led it going into the last round last year and he has the feeling now that he had then. He has prepared the same way, taking time off from the Tour to get some practice in around the Forest of Arden and he's looking for a good start from which to work himself into a challenging position.

"This is a strong golf course," he said, "and it's a lot faster this year. There's 20 yards more run."

Then the conversation reverted to equipment and as the subject of Steve Webster's first Tour victory is very topical (Webster, some fear, may have shaken more hands this week than is good for his bottom-hand grip) the tale of his first set of clubs may amuse a few down Atherstone way.

Broadhurst, a few years Webster's senior, passed on a bagful of Taylor Mades to the young thruster and what more encouragement can you give?

They had been passed down from Mister Broadhurst and the youngster felt obliged to use them. Even though, were the truth known, he couldn't really use them. There's gratitude and loyalty for you.

"I don't know if he was using them in Italy last week, " said Mister Broadhurst.

Atherstone's second son's triumph put great pride into Mister Broadhurst's thoughts. The older man tends to play his casual golf at Drayton Manor these days but he remains an Atherstone member and derives as much pleasure from Webster's success in the Italian Open as all the other locals.

"He's playing so well; he hasn't missed a cut all year. When he gets his putter going, he's got a chance most weeks," said Mister Broadhurst.

It is not an outrageous prediction that this year's British Masters could turn out to be the final of the Atherstone singles.

"Me and Broady," said Webster. "Hopefully, we can get a result on the board."

This was Wednesday and Webster's hangover from Monday, which he still speaks of with awe, had passed.

When he got back to Warwickshire the 20 mates, with whom he shared his 12st of Parmesan cheese, part of the Italian Open prize, had helped him with the celebrations and these had been fairly protracted.

Winning a tournament, he said, was a great feeling and now he wanted to win some more. "I played with Ernie Els in Qatar this year and he said, when I've won one, I'd win some more. I hope he's right," said Webster.

"I'd love to be in contention again; I'd love to win another one. But I'm not going to push for it."

What he was looking to do was find a top-15 place in the Order of Merit and to qualify for the Majors.

"I'm not in any of them but I'm taking one step at a time and this is a big week for me," he added.