Article by Ross Parry
Tim Ford has won the Lancashire PGA County Championship. For the world's best golfers, a victory can be worth millions. For professionals trying to forge a career from the game's lower ranks, even winning can come at a cost.
The Liverpool golfer returned a score of four-under-par to win the title by three shots at Ormskirk Golf Club.
Asked about the personal significance of taking home this title, he said: "It’s important. It’s my third individual win of the season, which is nice.
"I’ve been, on the local circuit, playing pretty well this year. I have had a few second places as well. I think if I can continue the form, I’ll hopefully get a little momentum going towards the end of the season."
Ford reflected on what having his name on this trophy does for his confidence after a strong season.
"I think the whole season, more than anything, has given me more confidence.
"Just off the fact that I’ve played a pretty good standard of golf for most of the season.
"I’ve picked up three wins, had a lot of good finishes and it shows that I’m right up there, near the top of the leaderboard in those events."
The harsh realities of forging a career in tour golf
The Lancashire PGA County Championship awarded a £460 prize to the winner of this tournament in 2026, with no monetary prize received for twelfth place and below.
This is a large contrast to the weekly multi-million-dollar purses that are on the line in DP World Tour and PGA Tour events.
Ford articulated the challenges which need to be considered when entering regular tournaments at this level.
He said: "You have got to spend quite a lot…your managing, your coaching, with your playing and with things off the course.
"I’m a dad of two young girls, so priority is to make sure the family is sorted and safe, we can pay the bills and then try to blend in some competitive golf around that."
Ford appreciated that great performances on the course do not mean that money will not be lost during that competition.
"If you don’t have any coaching in that week, and you are just going to play one event, then, yeah, you can definitely lose money with the expenditure of driving, petrol, accommodation and food whilst you’re away."
Ford acknowledged that players at this level often need to find alternative ways to make golf pay and provide them with a sufficient income.
"At the PGA level, you would have to either finish very high up in a lot of national events, in order to be up, but I would say the majority of people who play at just the PGA level will have to subsidise that with coaching."
He praised the role of sponsors for enabling him to pursue a professional playing career.
"I’m really lucky to have really good sponsors in Peninsula Property, Liverpool Golf Centre and Apeiron Clothing, which have really helped me out over the last few years, appearing on, and helping me out with, my clothing."
Will the late rise of Joe Dean provide inspiration to players that they can achieve their goals?
Englishman Joe Dean won his maiden DP World Tour title last Sunday.
He won the British Masters at The Belfry, rallying back from being seven shots behind the leader after day three of play.
Dean has had a unique pathway to glory in the most elite side of golf. He grinded it out on the EuroPro Tour for a significant portion of his career and is a former grocery delivery driver.
Ford expressed admiration for Dean’s recent successes and felt able to relate to the sacrifices that he makes.
"It just shows the struggles, you know. I’ve been aware of Joe Dean for years. He used to play the EuroPro when I did.
"He was, obviously, a brilliant player then and to see how far he has come now is incredible and inspirational. He is playing some world class golf and the fact that he’s just won is unbelievable.
"It just shows that sacrifice and consistency, over time, does get results. I can 100% relate to that."
Ford expressed that all players make moves at different periods during their careers, and that any player has the potential to make huge progressions in the game.
He said: "Absolutely, yeah. Joe Dean. I think he is a unicorn, in that he has always been a world class player, but it does show that hard work, sacrifice and patience. I think that is the key thing.
"People can break through at different levels at different times. Definitely."
He also acknowledged that it is difficult for fans of tours such as the DP World Tour to appreciate the fine margins that separate those professionals from the players attempting to break out from more modest tours.
"No. I mean, I don’t know what the difference would be, but it would be very small amount in ability and maybe more to do with luck, financial backing and having the right round at the correct time.
"It is very, very fine margins. Definitely."
