Chris Selfridge is putting his injury troubles behind him and is fully focussed on returning to form at this week’s Galgorm Resort & Spa Northern Ireland Open presented by Modest! Golf.
The Northern Irishman was beginning to show real promise on the 2016 Road to Oman, sitting inside the top 30 before torn wrist ligaments prematurely ended his season.
The 25 year old began the current campaign pain-free, but in May elbow tendonitis forced Selfridge to withdraw from the Andalucía Costa del Sol Match Play 9.
With a run of events now under his belt, the University of Toledo graduate is looking to rediscover the performance levels that saw him flourish last year.
“I am feeling good,” he said. “I have had no issues with injury at all since Saint Omer, so I am starting to feel a lot better.
“I was healthy for the first couple of tournaments then I hurt myself in Portugal and had to withdraw from Spain the following week. I then took three weeks off.
“I came back in Belgium and it was still niggling me so by the time I was playing again in Saint Omer I felt very rusty.
“I started to play better in July and now it is such a relief just to be playing. If I am honest I would like to be playing better, but it is just great to be able to play again – I’m very happy to be healthy.”
Returning to Galgorm Castle is an experience that Selfridge is relishing. With his home just 19 miles away in the town of Magherafelt, he can truly call this week a home event.
“It is a great course and a great venue plus it is only 25 minutes from home,” he said. “This is my fifth event in a row, so it is great to be able to stay at home after a long stretch – although I am not off as such it will be nice to spend a week at home.
“It really breaks things up as you get all the home comforts of staying in your own bed and your own home which, when you are travelling so much, is really good to be able to do.
“I have played well there in the past. I came 16th and tied 11th and have had chances to finish really high up the leaderboard – so I have very good memories of the place.
“You have to drive well at Galgorm. When I describe the course to people who haven’t played there before I tell them that if you drive the ball well it’s an easy golf course.
“If you’re not driving well though then par is a really good score – the rough is thick and there are so many narrow holes.
“The par fives will give you chances and the course isn’t particularly long, so if you have a really good week off the tee you should shoot three or four under comfortably – so you have to drive it well.
“The course is always in great condition and it’s going to be a great week.”
