Mark Tullo will draw on fond Finnish memories at this week’s Vierumӓki Finnish Challenge as he hopes for a change of fortunes that can revive his dreams of a spot in the top 15 on the Road to Oman.
The Chilean won in Finland in 2014 on his way to graduating to the European Tour in fifth spot in the rankings but, back on the European Challenge Tour this season, he has yet to find his best form.
Although his victory two years ago came at a different venue to this week, with Vierumӓki Resort hosting for the first time, the 38 year old is confident those good memories can inspire him to contend again.
“It’s awesome to be back,” he said. “Two years ago was an amazing golf course and this year is an amazing golf course again, I love the design and the track is great – if the wind doesn’t blow it can be a very fun golf course.
“I’d say it’s one of the best courses I’ve played all year. I like the look of it and it’s not a chip and putt course – it’s got some long holes, some tough holes, and I like the way it looks.
“My game is good, I’m just not scoring well for some reason. I think I’m hitting it good but I’m just not getting it done, so it’s just a switch or a change in something I need that can make good scores.
“Maybe you need something to go the right way, because the game is there, but I haven’t scored right. The putting needs to improve a little bit, but this sport surprises you in so many ways, for good and for bad – hopefully for good again sometime soon.”
With the 2016 season heading towards the final stretch, and with some big tournaments still to come, Tullo is aware that finding form soon is essential if he is to return to the European Tour next season.
“You always peak at certain times of the year and, trying to think positive, I haven’t peaked yet this year,” he said. “Maybe I’ll peak at the end of the season, which is exactly what you want to do.
“This season, the real big tournaments are coming up, and if you win one of those you’re set. You want to go into them with the right frame of mind, because top 15 is still definitely the goal this year.
“I’ve been here so many times before and actually got it done so many times too. I’ve missed out also, but I can do it, it’s not like I’m not playing well or I’m not good enough. I’ve got big tournaments coming up and hopefully I can get my game right for those.
“There’s no single player dominating, like in other years, but that shows that anybody can win, which is good, and I think the standards on the Challenge Tour are always amazing – you have to play proper golf to win an event, which shows that the level of golf in Europe nowadays is very good, so we’ve got to step it up.
“It helps having had those experiences of winning, you’ve got to grab onto it when you’re there, but I haven’t been in contention or in the final group yet this year, so hopefully if I can get there I can use that stuff.
“Golf can switch from one week to the other, so let’s hope I can switch it the right way this week – I have good memories in Finland, let’s see if we can make them come back.”
A strong field has assembled in Finland, headed by Road to Oman Rankings Number Two Romain Langasque and recent winner of Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge, Alexander Bjӧrk.
Two other Challenge Tour winners in 2016, Simon Forsstrom and Damien Perrier, will tee it up, while Dylan Frittelli – with three top tens in his last four events – and Thomas Detry – yet to miss a cut as a professional – are among the other players arriving in Finland in form.
Leading the home hopefuls is Kalle Samooja, who was in contention to win last week’s Swedish Challenge hosted by Robert Karlsson before faltering on the final day to finish in a tie for 13
th
.
