A Cheam golfer had to dash home from a major tournament for the second time in three years in order to be at his pregnant wife’s side.

Ross Fisher, 30, faced a nerve-jangling journey home after this year’s US Masters, in Augusta, Georgia, as he and wife Joanne’s second child was due.

This time round the issue is complicated by the fact the Englishman is on the other side of the Atlantic.

Fisher, who ended up in 15th place, told Reuters before the event: "To be perfectly honest I don't know what I'll do if the baby comes early. I'll just have to wait and see when the baby comes. I'll have to cross that bridge if and when we come to it.

"It is a fairly similar situation although obviously a little harder with me being in the States as opposed to being in Scotland. That would make things a little trickier. It would be very difficult to get back in time."

As it turned out the Wentworth prodigy managed to get home in time and by Wednesday afternoon the baby was yet to arrive.

It was a case of history repeating though for Fisher who faced a similar dilemma in 2009 when Joanne was expecting their first child, Eve.

The Ryder Cup ace went into the final round of the British Open at Turnberry one shot off the lead but vowed to drop everything and return home if his wife went into labour.

Such was his desperation not to miss the birth he instructed his manager to alert him on the course if her situation changed.

In marked the end of a tough week for Fisher whose plane to Georgia, also carrying fellow British golfer Lee Westwood, had to make an emergency landing at Houston airport after a cockpit fire.

Eventual Masters winner South African Charl Schwartzel is expected to earn in excess of $3m, plus the coveted green jacket all champions receive.