The year that has just hurtled by wasn't a good one for cherished golfing trees.

And we're not talking about Tiger Woods here. Augusta National's iconic Eisenhower Tree had to be chopped down after suffering ice damage, Sawgrass lost the hardy perennial that hung down over its sixth tee and a severe storm felled one of the pretentious shrubs that stood like a sentry on the 18th fairway at Pebble Beach.

With all this uprooting going on in the global game, Glasgow's Kylie Walker at least managed to buck the trend. "They planted a tree in my honour," said the 28-year-old as she reflected on her victory in the Ladies German Open last July and the baffling bark-related bounty that was presented to her. As well as a ceremonial tree planting, Walker was also given a large slab of wood with a plaque screwed on to it to take home. "It's up on the shelf in my mum and dad's house and it certainly stands out," added Walker. "Regardless of how unusual the trophy is, it's still a trophy and that means I was a winner. That's the important thing."

Walker's German triumph was her second victory in two months on the Ladies European Tour during a 2014 campaign that was a "breakthrough year." It was also a victory that arrived just a week after she had opened with a calamitous nine on the very first hole of the Ricoh Women's British Open at Royal Birkdale. It's a funny old game but Walker has serious ambitions.

Despite being left disappointed by her showings in the two majors she played in - Walker was leading after 10 holes of the Evian Championship but her challenge petered out due to the effects of a niggling injury - the former Scotland amateur cap believes the confidence gained and the hunger generated by her brace of victories last season can help hoist her to a new level. In a Solheim Cup year, Walker, who sits ninth on the European qualifying points list with the top-four gaining an automatic spot in the team for September's match with the USA in Germany, has plenty to aim for.

"2014 was a breakthrough year and a realisation that I can do it but I know I am capable of being a much better player," said Walker, whose last taste of team competition was for Scotland and GB&I during her final season as an amateur in 2009. "The Solheim Cup is definitely in my sights. I am in a decent position going into the new season but I know I need to move up a gear."

Walker certainly got motoring during her push for that German Open win and three opening rounds of 64 - a Ladies European Tour record - left her six shots clear heading into the final day. She was pegged back by the fast-finishing English star, Charley Hull, but the fact she revelled in the cut-and-thrust and held her nerve in the play-off to eventually triumph spoke volumes for Walker's mental resolve and competitive instinct. It was her second play-off victory of the season having triumphed in a sudden-death shoot-out en route to her maiden tour win in the Netherlands in May.

"Those first three rounds in Germany were the best rounds of golf I've ever played," she noted. "Days like that show you just what you are capable of doing. Of course, it's not easy to do that all the time. If you could bottle that kind of stuff you'd be a world beater....but then every golfer would say that.

"The final day was more of a fight but I loved the challenge and I was proud of the way that I won. Charley came charging back at me but I didn't panic, I enjoyed the excitement and the atmosphere of everybody watching us. Instead of seizing up and getting tense, I embraced the whole thing. That's what you want every week."

She's already had a tree planted in honour of her golfing exploits. Ahead of the 2015 campaign, Walker seems ready to branch out.

ENDS