So close you can almost taste it

For most, the transition from amateur to professional is a tough, arduous journey through the lower ranks. PAUL GALLAGHERreports

THERE ISN’T a touring professional out there who doesn’t aspire to tee it up in the majors, to test their nerve coming down the stretch on a Sunday afternoon, but there is no god-given right to arrive at that destination.

Rory McIlroy is one of a select few who made the transition from amateur to professional look easy; for the majority, it’s a tough, arduous journey through the lower ranks.

Life away from the main European and US PGA Tours can be a testing and lonely crusade where the expense of travel and competing often outweigh the prize money return at the end of the week. It’s far from an ideal situation, but competing on the likes of the European Challenge Tour is a necessity for many. It’s part of a learning curve, an apprenticeship or, perhaps most of all, a stepping stone. As long as the desire and the belief remains then the dreams lives on.

Ireland has nine professionals registered and able to compete on the Challenge Tour – the second tier of European golf – but that number is slightly distorted as it includes Michael Hoey, who won his maiden European Tour event at the Portuguese Open earlier this month, giving him a two-year exemption on the main circuit.

“There has been a bunch of us trying to break through for some time now,” explained Michael McGeady, who was on hand at Moy Valley in Kildare for the recent launch of the €150,000 Challenge of Ireland, the only Irish event on the Tour schedule.

McGeady (30), is an affable character whose aspirations are typical of a professional trying to make it to the top flight.

“Last year I started with a Category 12 on the Challenge Tour, which meant I had to rely on Conor (his manager at Horizon Sports Management) to get me invites. But I won in Wales and that just turned my whole year around.” He received €22,400 for winning the 2008 Wales Challenge.

It also gave the Donegal man Category One status and scope to schedule his season more freely.

On average it costs around €1,500 to compete every week by the time travel, accommodation and entry costs are considered. Last year McGeady played 18 events and finished 42nd on the money list with earnings of €42,945. In theory that left little over €15,000 in return.

“To be honest, when on the Challenge Tour you’re relying on sponsorship to keep you going and it’s a hard time to be asking for anything, let alone sponsorship,” said McGeady, who turned pro in 2005.

“Team Ireland and Irish Life have given me great support, they’ve been my lifeline since I turned professional. Without it there’s no two ways about it, I’d be gone.”

Pádraig Ó hUigínn, chairman of the Team Ireland Golf Trust, had the foresight to put support mechanisms in place to help young golfers make the transition from elite amateurs to successful touring professionals. This year the Irish Sports Council (ISC) invested almost €250,000, and the likes of McGeady received up to €20,000 in assistance.

“We know these lads are not going to get rich from what we are giving them financially, but at least they can afford to compete in tournaments,” explains John Treacy, the ISC chief executive. “All we’re trying to do is provide a platform, a support mechanism.

“The GUI has always done a great job looking after the young lads, but when they turn pro they are on their own. Apart from financial assistance, we also run coaching programmes with Brendan McDaid and the GUI National Academy at Carton House as part of the support for when these guys leave the amateur game.”

Colm Moriarty is a more seasoned campaigner having turned pro in 2003. The 29-year-old has tasted life on the main European Tour and was in contention at the Irish Open at Carton House several years ago, but has competed mainly on the Challenge Tour.

“The main difference between the tours is the courses are generally more difficult, tighter fairways, faster greens and usually longer, stadium type courses,” explains Moriarty.

McGeady suggests the “levels of concentration” is another key difference and admires how the top pros can maintain that intensity for four rounds.

“I’ve been a pro five years now, pretty much playing on the Challenge Tour, and it’s the small things that make the difference,” added Moriarty, who undoubtedly takes confidence from peers like Hoey and Gareth Maybin making the breakthrough.

“Watching Michael and Gareth definitely gives us confidence. But remember, Michael has been a pro eight years – and been to Qualifying School countless times – and only won his first event on the main tour several weeks ago.

“Everybody goes through their ups and downs, learning what works. Some guys learn very quickly, for others it takes longer, but personally, I know I have the game to compete at a high level.

“Success definitely breeds success. This is surely the best ever period in Irish golf, especially with Pádraig, Rory and Graeme (McDowell) leading the way. Then you have all the other winners in the last 12 months, including Michael.

“Seeing your mates win is definitely a motivating factor. You automatically think: I know I’m as good as him, I can win too.”

McGeady endorses Moriarty’s view of taking inspiration from Hoey and Maybin.

“It’s massive for us to people like Michael and Gareth do so well. I know their games inside out. I also know on a good day there’s little to no difference in our games.

“I feel like I’m good enough (to play on the main tour) but one more year on the Challenge Tour won’t kill me. It’ll be another bit of learning, but I’ll be ready for the main tour next year,” added McGeady.

It’s this belief you have to admire in these players. They operate off small margins and – without knocking the Challenge Tour and other progressive (satellite) tours – there is the stark realisation that no player competes on mini tours to get rich. It’s back to the proverbial stepping stone, the vehicle in which to reach a better place.

The Challenge of Ireland will be played at the Champions Club at Moy Valley from June 11th-14th, and to have an Irish event on the schedule carries many benefits.

“There are two key reasons we put some funding into this event,” explains Treacy. “Firstly it’s important to have an event in Ireland for these lads to be able to compete at home.

“But perhaps more importantly, it gives us leverage for Irish players with a lower category to gain invites into other international events. It’s like a bargaining tool.”

“The importance of an Irish event is massive. That’s exactly the way Gareth (Maybin) was able to eventually secure his main tour card,” added McGeady.

After completing his scholarship at the University of South Alabama, Maybin turned pro in 2005 and spent almost three years competing on the Hooters Tour in the States before he got a start in Europe.

“My management company Horizon where the ones who got me the initial starts on the Challenge Tour. My first event was the Ryder Cup Challenge in Wales in 2007 where I finished third and was 12th in Ireland several weeks later,” said Maybin.

“All of a sudden I was off and running and quickly gained status to play full-time on the Challenge Tour. My first win came at the inaugural Qingdao Golf Open in China – that was definitely bigger than my two wins on the Hooters Tour.”

Maybin went on to finish fourth on the Challenge Tour money list last season with earnings of €117,719 from 20 events which earned him his main tour card.

“I think the time spent in the mini tours has done me the world of good. It’s almost like serving your apprenticeship, learning the ropes and not getting thrown in at the deep end,” added the 28-year-old, who has adjusted well to life on the main tour.

He is currently 36th in the Race to Dubai with €251,905 from 10 events; the highlight was reaching a play-off at the South African Open last December. Hoey has been equally impressive, with €275,226 from seven events, including the win in Portugal, to be 32nd on the money list.

There are plenty of positives to draw on, but Stephen Browne’s decision to leave the paid ranks recently is a timely reminder of how difficult it can be to carve out a professional career.

The former European Amateur champion had moderate success, but after too much time on the road and away from a young family, plus the financial insecurity, the Dubliner made his decision to quit. It serves as a reality check for those hoping to make the grade.

“I haven’t really thought about a Plan B, to be honest,” said McGeady, when asked about an alternative if professional golf didn’t work out.

“I just feel I’m going to be good enough to play on tour. I’ve played with some of the top players and I know what it takes. When I play well I know I can compete with them.”

It is a fine line between success and failure, but as long as there is belief there will always be the desire to make the breakthrough.

Name Category

6 Colm Moriarty 8

(Finished between 46th-80th on 2008 Challenge Tour Money list)

7 Alan Murray 10

(T5 to limit of 10th, not otherwise exempt from other satellite tours)

8 Gareth Shaw 11

(Finished between 81st-120th on 2008 Challenge Tour Money list)

9 Simon Thornton 7

(Made final Q-school cut but outside T30 — Cat 14 European Tour)

Alternative Tours away from main European and US PGA Tours: European Challenge Tour ; PGA Irish Region ; PGA EuroPro Tour; Nationwide Tour (US); Hooters Tour (US).

Name Category

1 Jonathan Caldwell 4b

(T30 from 08 Q-School-Final — Cat 11b European Tour)

2 Noel Fox 10

(T5 to limit of 10th, not otherwise exempt from other satellite tours)

3 Michael Hoey 1

(Winner of regular Challenge Tour event on 08/09 schedule)

4 David Higgins 13

(Finished between 121st-150th on 2008 Challenge Tour money list)

5 Michael McGeady 1

(Winner of regular Challenge Tour event on 08/09 schedule)