Rankings leader Jordi Garcia Pinto returns to action this week at the D+D REAL Czech Challenge as he looks to continue the fine form that has seen him finish in the top three twice in 2014.
His runner up finish to Marco Crespi at the NH Collection Open in April would prove a sign of things to come for the Spaniard, and Garcia Pinto duly followed that result up with a third place at the Madeira Islands Open – Portugal – BPI earlier this month.
These results have the Girona native more than €18,000 clear at the top of the Challenge Tour Rankings, and in a strong position to claim his card, but the 2013 Barclays Kenya Open winner is not resting on his laurels having worked on his game for much of the past week.
Ahead of the Pro-Am at Golf & Spa Kunetická Hora, Garcia Pinto admitted to having a few doubts about his swing, but he is confident he can sort it out. His last start came at the Open de España at PGA Catalunya Resort, his home course and part of the European Tour Properties network, which was the perfect reminder of what he is playing for on the Challenge Tour.
“I’m feeling good after one week at home,” said the man on top of the Rankings after six events. “I feel like I have the right energy to play well this week, but I don’t feel great with my swing right now, so I will try and fix it in the Pro-Am and be 100 per cent for tomorrow.
“I worked on my game a lot last week, especially with the putter. I did plenty on my long game too, and was also in the gym, so I made sure to work on everything.
“PGA Catalunya Resort is my home course, and I started playing very well for the first two days at the Open de España, but on the weekend I made a couple of mistakes which cost me a triple bogey each day. That makes it almost impossible to finish in a higher position than a share of 49th, but I enjoyed the event a lot. It was a fantastic week for me, and for PGA Catalunya.
“I enjoy playing on The European Tour a lot, because you are playing against players like Sergio Garcia, Pablo Larrazábal, Paul McGinley and Thomas Björn, the players I have seen on the TV as a kid. It makes it much more special, and it is the place where I want to be, so I will work as hard as I can to be there.
“I played here in the Czech Republic two years ago, as well as nine holes yesterday, and the course looks very good. I like the design, it is in good condition, so it should be a good championship.”
Garcia Pinto will have plenty of competition this week, as he looks to build on his advantage at the top of the Rankings, and improve on a missed cut here two years ago.
With 11 of the top 15 on the season-long list in action it is sure to be a competitive week, but having worked hard on his game since teeing it up on The European Tour, the Spaniard could well be walking off with his first victory of the season come Sunday evening.
