In the final part of our ‘Top Five’ series, the Challenge Tour Rankings leader Ricardo Santos lays down his ambitions and looks back on the best period of his professional golfing career.
How would you sum up your campaign so far?
"I’ve been really happy with my consistency this season and I hope it will continue. I practiced a lot more before the season started and also changed a few things in my swing.
"I made some changes to my backswing mainly and that has really helped me, but also I have been doing some work with my sports psychologist and working on the mental side of my game and it has all added up and really helped my development."
How would you rate this Challenge Tour season in comparison to the previous seasons in your professional career?
"It’s obviously been a lot better than years before, when I finished 89th(2010) and 84th(2009) in the Challenge Tour Rankings.
"Previously I had a few top five finishes, but I’ve had much more consistency. I’m a lot better physically than I have been before too and that’s also been the key to this big step.”
Greatest moment of the year?
"Definitely my win at The Princess by Schüco at the PGA of Sweden because it was my first win. I had played well in the weeks before it but the feeling of getting that win was just amazing.
"They were very strong emotions for me. So many people contacted me straight after I had won and I cannot explain the emotions that went through me afterwards.
"It’s like when you dream something and you’re not sure if it will ever come true but to win a first big event like that, it was just incredible."
Aims for the rest of the year?
"I want to try and stay at number one but I think most importantly, I just want to try and enjoy the moment.
"I am almost certain to get a European Tour card next year so I want to just enjoy my golf now, take it shot by shot and not think too much about the fact that I am number one.
"Of course, I want to win some more tournaments before the end of the season but my consistency is still very important."
Aims beyond 2011?
"My aim next year is to finish in the top 20 in The Race to Dubai. I think it is reasonable, but then everyone says that don’t they!
"Definitely to take the same consistency that I have now onto The European Tour is important but it is going to be much different and there will be more difficult courses.
"I need to work more, prepare my physique better for the demands of The European Tour as well as my swing and my mentality. If I can improve those three things, I will be happy."
