Matthew Jordan is looking to follow in the footsteps of his 2017 Walker Cup teammate Jack Singh Brar by winning the Open de Bretagne, which gets under way at Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val André from September 5-8.
The Englishman is one of several players from the 2017 Great Britain and Ireland squad to achieve success on the Challenge Tour since entering the paid ranks. The former plus seven handicap currently occupies the fifth position on the Road to Mallorca Rankings.
With one victory already to his name this season, at the Italian Challenge Open Eneos Motor Oil in June, Jordan is one of three members of the 2017 Walker Cup squad to win on the Challenge Tour, with Singh Brar becoming the first to do so at the Open de Bretagne 12 months ago and Connor Syme securing his maiden victory at the 2019 Turkish Airlines Challenge.
It has been a year to remember for the 23-year-old who burst into the spotlight after a spectacular opening round of nine under par 63 at the Betfred British Masters, where he ultimately finished in a tie for 15th.
With five top ten finishes on the Challenge Tour this year all focus is now on ensuring that he secures one of the 15 European Tour cards up for grabs on the season-long Road to Mallorca.
‘’I’m trying not to think about the Rankings too much,’’ he said. ‘’I’d much rather be in this position than to be chasing. This way there’s not too much pressure on each event and I can just keep going along and do my thing. I just need to keep ahead of the game which is what I’ve managed to do since my win in Italy.’’
As the Merseyside native looks to replicate Singh Brar’s victory in Brittany, which helped him secure playing rights on the European Tour for 2019, he will also be able to draw inspiration from another one of his Walker Cup teammates.
Jordan’s playing partner in the Sunday foursomes at Los Angeles Golf Club, Robert MacIntyre, also graduated onto the European Tour following the 2018 Challenge Tour season.
‘’I played with Robert during the Walker Cup and he’s just come on leaps and bounds. I try to have something on him all the time,’’ he joked. ‘’At the moment I can’t really because he’d just come back to me with his European Tour card and his finish at The Open!
‘’In all seriousness though, it’s great to see the other guys do well. Jack played great last year, and Connor Syme has been putting in some good results as well. It’s a treat to see how everyone else is getting on and of course, it keeps you motivated as well. All the guys out here are good though, so there’s always plenty to keep pushing you to improve.’’
Jordan is likely to have one eye on proceedings across the Channel when Great Britain & Ireland take on the United States at his home course, Royal Liverpool Golf Club, this weekend in the 47th Walker Cup Match.
‘’I went over to Royal Liverpool on Monday just to chat with the players and offer any advice if they wanted it. The Walker Cup was such a great experience for me, so it was good to have a little reminisce and chat with the boys before the event gets started.’’
Meanwhile, at a firm seaside venue that has often produced English winners, Jordan is hoping his links experience will prove useful with strong winds forecast over the next four days.
‘’The course is very firm and with the wind blowing it feels like a links course in many ways. I’m used to the wind from playing links golf growing up although that doesn’t necessarily mean I enjoy it.
When it comes to pitching it short of the greens and playing with the terrain that is something I’m very used to, so hopefully that will give me a little edge.’’
The Open de Bretagne begins at 8:10 am local time, with Jordan beginning his first at 1:50pm.
