With category-one players sharpening their skills for the coming season, many will be looking even further ahead, to the possibility of a professional tournament career. Which reminds me of the Irish Amateur Open Strokeplay last May and the words of Nico LeGrange.
After taking the early lead at Royal Dublin with an opening 70, the son of one-time leading South African professional, Cobie LeGrange, was asked about his plans for a tournament career. He replied: "My father told me that a player shouldn't consider such a move until he has been the leading amateur in his native country for two successive seasons."
So, since the emergence of Ronan Rafferty and Philip Walton, which Irish players would have fitted those requirements over the 15 years? Based on the Willie Gill Award for consistency over the season, only two would qualify. One was the leading player in 1989 and 1990 and the other topped the list in 1994 and 1995. The players? Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington.
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