Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley has emphasised the importance of the European Challenge Tour for the development of Irish golf’s best young talents.
The Dubliner, who became the first Irishman to captain Team Europe to a Ryder Cup victory in 2014, underlined how Europe’s top developmental tour is the perfect learning ground for up and coming players wanting to earn their stripes in professional golf.
With Northern Ireland’s Dermot McElroy challenging at this week’s Volopa Irish Challenge hosted by Mount Wolseley Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, McGinley reinforced the view that the Challenge Tour is the breeding ground for Europe’s next generation of European Tour stars.
“Events like this week’s on the Challenge Tour are very important because they give players confidence so that they are well equipped and able to establish themselves on the European Tour,” he said.
“I think in Ireland we like to support a lot of different levels of golf. Our amateur game is really strong and we have a great schedule for our top amateur players.
“On the Challenge Tour we have this event along with the Irish Open on the European Tour. Ireland is a golf-loving country and we have a lot of great courses.
“The sponsors Volopa have been very strong this week and we really appreciate all the support that they have given to the tournament and to these players who are the up and coming stars of the future.
“I think there is a big gap in Ireland at the moment from being a top level amateur – we had five players in the Walker Cup team two years ago – to being established on the Tour.
“The Walker Cup players haven’t quite progressed as well as we would have hoped, but Paul Dunne is close to keeping his card on the Tour. Anytime you are close to keeping your card on the Tour after Qualifying School is a great achievement, so hopefully he gets over the line in the next few weeks.
“The other guys are a little bit lower down the levels in terms of not being on the Tour. Some of them are trying to get starts here and there, while others and are playing here this week. Jack Hume is still an amateur and is maybe going to have a go at turning professional soon.
“As I say there is a big gap in Ireland between being a top-level amateur to being established on the Tour and it is not easy.
“There is a lot of real quality players in that gap and that’s why the Challenge Tour is so key. If you are good enough to come off this Tour, which is a really good quality tour in terms of standards, then you are good enough to keep your card on the European Tour.”
