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Does it get any tougher than Tour School ?

By: Golf Shake | Mon 16 Nov 2015


Post by Sports Writer Derek Clements

If there is a tougher, more soul-destroying experience for a professional golfer than tour school, then it is difficult to imagine what it might be. A total of 156 golfers are fighting it out at PGA Catalunya Resort in Spain over a ball-breaking six rounds, at the end of which only the top 25 and ties will have earned the right to compete on the European Tour, and will join the top 15 money winners from the Challenge Tour to chase their dreams alongside the likes of Rory McIlroy, Danny Willett and Shane Lowry.

As always, the field comprises a mix of preposterously talented young tyros with the world at their feet and a host of gnarled old pros who have seen and done it all before but have lost their tour cards, for whatever reason, and still believe they are good enough to return to the big time and win again.

One of the former is Paul Dunne, the Irishman who held the distinction of leading The Open after three rounds at St Andrews while still an amateur. Undoubtedly an extremely talented player, Dunne succumbed to the pressure as history beckoned, but he was invited to take part in the US Amateur championship and reached the quarter-finals, winning many American hearts along the way.

Q School

Dunne, who is 22, turned professional shortly afterwards and he was given the opportunity to play in a number of European Tour events towards the end of the season. Although he showed flashes of form, he failed to earn enough money to automatically earn his card, and will face six gruelling rounds.

You would hardly describe Edoardo Molinari as a gnarled old pro, but the 34-year-old Italian has won twice on tour and made the Ryder Cup team in 2010, where he played alongside his brother, Francesco.

Edoardo has been dogged by injury in recent times and it hasn't helped his game, or his swing. This year he played in 22 events and missed 10 cuts. His best finish was tied 15th in the Tashwane Open and although he showed flashes of his old self, Molinari finished the season in 158th place in the Race to Dubai - only the top 110 keep their cards.

“My game is definitely in good enough shape,” said the former US Amateur champion and Challenge Tour number one. “I’ve been hitting the ball really solidly lately so hopefully I can play six good rounds and that will be enough.

“Obviously this season I’ve played quite poorly and I’m finally hitting the ball better so I’m really looking forward to this week and having a good six rounds of golf to hopefully get my card back. It’s always a very long week, very stressful, and you need to be careful not to waste too much energy in the first few days because it’s almost like a marathon. You just have to be patient and play good golf and that will take care of everything else.

“Experience always helps but I think the most important thing is to play well, play good golf shots, and everything else will be fine.”

Dunne led the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship after the first round but faded as the tournament progressed, However, he has proved that he can compete at the very highest level and is guaranteed a number of sponsors' invitations in 2016 even if he fails to secure his card. 

“So far it’s been good because I’ve got through every stage and I haven’t played yet this week so I can’t really compare it to those experiences yet,” Dunne said. “Hopefully it’ll be a good week but if it’s not, it’s obviously not the end of the world – I’ll still have playing opportunities next year.

“I’m just excited for the opportunity and hopefully I can play well, keep my composure and hit good shots at the right time, and hit the bad ones at the right time too. Everyone is going to hit bad shots so it’s a case of making par when you do. Time will tell but I’ll just take the week as it comes.

“I think I unpacked my bags this week for a little bit longer than usual, it’s a long week but the weather is good and the course is in great shape so I’m looking forward to it. It beats practicing back in the wind and rain at home. It’s obviously a great opportunity and hopefully I can make the most of it but I’m just going to try and play well and see where it leaves me.”

A total of 26 different countries are represented at Final Stage this year, including Slovenia and Malaysia, while 32 former European Tour winners are in the field, with 58 titles among them.

There are some familiar names in action. They include Nick Dougherty, sadly now better known for his work with Sky TV than for his deeds on the golf course, former Ryder Cup players Soren Hansen and Jarmo Sandelin, Richard Finch, Mark Foster, Damien McGrane and Peter Lawrie.

Keep an eye on Ashley Chesters, who also performed quite superbly at The Open while still an amateur.


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Tags: european tour



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