Rhys Enoch has been biding his time for quite some time, and now the Welshman is ready to make his presence felt on the professional stage after impressing in his first European Challenge Tour appearance since joining the paid ranks in India last month.
At 24 years of age, Enoch could be regarded as a late starter in the modern professional era, but he believes that his talent has developed and matured during the five years spent at university in the USA.
While many of a similar age and standard were beginning their golf careers in earnest, the former Jacques Léglise Trophy winner had his head in the books at East Tennessee State University, studying for a four-year degree in Sports Management before continuing for another year to secure a Masters degree in the same field.
Enoch was due to finally arrive on the professional stage at the Scottish Hydro Challenge hosted by Macdonald Hotels and Resorts last year, and was itching to begin life in the paid ranks but unfortunately he was forced to wait even longer to make his debut.
He explained: “I finally turned professional in June and was supposed to play in Scotland but I wasn’t feeling well. I was having headaches and when I finally saw the doctor he told me I had glandular fever.
“Then I just had to sit around for two months. Obviously I was disappointed because I was excited and I really wanted to get going and play the game I love for a living.”
When he finally got going, Enoch certainly made up for lost time, winning his first event as a professional on a mini-tour in England before securing a card for the Alps Tour. He then claimed a share of eighth place in the Gujarat Kensville Challenge in January.
Having spent five years biding his time in the amateur ranks, while also suffering personal tragedy in 2009 when his brother and fellow budding golf star Ben died in a car accident, it has been a long journey to this point for Enoch. But he feels he is now ready for the big time.
“I guess because I'm a bit older now, I’m more mature and I'm learning about my game quite quickly,” he said. “I switched coach recently and my scores have been much more consistent, so that’s really promising.
“I am just trying to be consistent because I make a lot of birdies, so consistency with my scoring is very important. It has been an encouraging start. I hadn’t been practising at all before India so I'm looking forward to getting sharper.
“Obviously I am 24 now and I feel a bit like a 21 year old because I'm only starting now, but there is plenty of time and I’m glad I waited.”
