NEWPORT-based Phillip Price has laid down the gauntlet for 2004 after his most successful season on the European Tour, which included victory in the European Open, saying: "I want more".

Price was a happy man after the end-of-year rankings confirmed his rise into the world's top 50.

The Pontypridd-born golfer climbed 79 places to 48th following a successful campaign that saw him claim his most important win in July.

"The rankings are a major priority, they allow you to play in the world's top tournaments," said Price.

"But now I want to win more tournaments, get to the Ryder Cup and reach the world top 20."

The season was a big turnaround for Price, who, until his European Open triumph, had been without a top five finish since he beat Phil Mickelson to help Europe lift the Ryder Cup at the Belfry in September 2002.

"The Ryder Cup was the biggest difficulty for me," said Price, who lost form after his selection, making the result against Mickelson even more of a shock.

"I started to mess around with my swing and overdo things in practice.

"I fell down the rankings and lost a lot of confidence, but, at the start of 2003, I was determined to get things back on track.

"There were some good signs early on, but I couldn't quite put everything together.

"In the middle of the year, I started to play really well and the European Open win was the highlight."

Price's ranking means he is guaranteed entry to the four Majors this year, and the Welshman is determined to make his presence felt.

"The top 50 in the world rankings is the place to be," said Price. "I want to win more than once in 2004."

Meanwhile, Price is wasting no time re-launching his 2004 Ryder Cup campaign, joining the likes of Lee Westwood and Colin Montgomerie in the field for the South African Airways Open at Erinvale on January 15-18.

The opposition in Somerset West will include defending champion Trevor Immelman, Ian Poulter, Justin Rose, Paul Lawrie and Paul McGinley.

Welsh quartet Bradley Dredge, David Park, Stephen Dodd and Mark Mouland will also be in action in South Africa later this month.

Elsewhere, Open champion Ben Curtis has announced he is to play on the European Tour next year.

Curtis was thrust into the limelight as a virtual unknown when he lifted the famous Claret Jug at Royal St George's in the summer.

He will spend 2004 commuting across the Atlantic as he plans to continue in the US PGA Tour.

The 26-year-old will play at least 11 European events in order to qualify for full membership.