In her first year as a professional, Melissa Reid has made impressive strides. The 21-year-old Englishwoman has narrowly missed a maiden victory on the Ladies European Tour, having finished runner-up three times, and is utterly determined to reach the pinnacle of her chosen sport. She knows it will be tough, but will leave no stone unturned in her quest to challenge for the game's highest honours.

Which is why this week she is to be found at Daytona Beach, Florida, putting herself through five gruelling days at final qualifying school for one of 20 places on offer for the LPGA Tour in 2009. If she had been wondering quite what was in store for her then Reid will have been under no illusions after a first round that left her virtually propping up a field of 139 players that includes, among others, Michelle Wie and the brilliant Stacy Lewis, together with a host of young and promising South Koreans.

Reid's seven-over-par round of 79 left her trailing the leader by 15 shots and aware that only some spectactular golf would save her from the 72-hole cut for the leading 70 players. It would be quite something if she were to make it from there.

But if nothing else, this is one player who will do everything in her power to turn adversity to advantage. She will take the experience, learn from it and come back better and stronger. It helps, of course, that she has the backing of Sir Clive Woodward - formerly the team manager for the World Cup-winning England rugby union team - who hand-picked her for special support and has surrounded her with a team of advisers including a fitness coach, a nutritionist and a physiotherapist. They are taking a scientific approach to the game and have found a willing and able guinea pig.

For Reid, a Derbyshire lass, there are no half measures. She says she wants to be the best player in the world and "still" winning major championships at the age of 45. And that to do that, she has "to compete against the best players, which is on the LPGA Tour." As can be seen, she is not afraid to speak her mind.

It is since Woodward took her under his wing two years ago that Reid has learnt that there is no shortcut to success. But it is on this theme that she has risked the ire of her peers by criticising the approach of fellow Brits. "British players, and British sports people in general, especially youngsters, don't understand what hard work is," she said. I think she has a point.

Two years ago, Reid believed she was working hard by going to the gym three times a week for an hour-and-a-half and practising her game for around two to three hours a day. Now she does up to ten hours of practise in a day, combined with two-hour gym sessions.

Some might regard that as too much, out of synch with the work ethic of the majority. But that is exactly her point. She knows that the Koreans, who are beginning to dominate the women's game, are putting in just as much effort, and she is convinced that to compete with them, she will have to dedicate herself to the game in just the same way.

Is it obsessional? Yes. Is it a good or a bad thing? Who are we to say? One thing is certain, however. If she does indeed go on to dominate the game, she will be celebrated by us all. We must wish her well.

Wie back in the swing

All of which, in American eyes, pales into insignificance alongside the inevitable hype surrounding Michele Wie. It is hard to believe that almost six years have passed since the Hawaiian was wowing the galleries as a long-hitting 13-year-old schoolgirl with one of the prettiest swings in the game.

Her fall from grace these past two years - brought about through injuries and some colossal pr gaffes - had been unkindly welcomed in some quarters by those who felt she had been given special treatment by tournament organisers and officials, who were only too willing to offer her invitations to play. Who, they should have asked, was drawing the crowds through the gates?