A TALENTED Killarney golfer, determined to realise his burning ambition to play successfully on the European Tour, is this week teeing it up alongside the big boys after securing a sponsor’s invitation for the Fred Olsen Challenge de España in the Canaries.
It provides an ideal warm-up for Dan Sugrue as he returns to European Tour action at the Irish Open at Fota Island on June 19-22, following impressive performances on the Irish circuit last year.
The 36-year-old, a highly rated player who turned professional in 2002, had already qualified to compete in this year’s Open.
Curve
Attached to Killarney Golf Club, he played his first pro event in the Costa Rica Open over 10 years ago but, he acknowledged, life since then has been “a very steep learning curve”.
“The knowledge and experience I gained on the European Challenge Tour and playing in my first major at the 2004 British Open in Royal Troon has given me the platform from which to launch this phase of my career,” he said.
“I feel this is one of the greatest opportunities of my life to truly reach my full potential as a competitive professional golfer and I am determined to make it a reality.
“It requires hard work, belief and most importantly great planning,” the Faha native remarked.
Domestic
Sugrue has been assistant professional at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club throughout his PGA training and he has played extensively on the domestic tour, winning the Irish Assistants Championship in both 2010 and 2012.
“I have no doubt that, with the right support and investment in my future golf career, I can achieve great things.
“The biggest hurdle is having the right management and infrastructure in place,” Sugrue said.
Ethic
He is looking forward to competing in the Irish Open and he is working hard in advance of that opportunity.
“I intend to be a fully-fledged European Tour player. I have the necessary experience and work ethic to achieve this goal,” he stressed.
