Ahead of the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final, some of the Challenge Tour’s movers and shakers have recounted their own personal highlights of 2011, both on and off the course…
SAM LITTLE: “It’s nice to have three highlights to pick from but I suppose my first win of the year in Russia was probably the most important, because it was a complete game changer for me. One minute I was struggling to get into the Grand Final and then I went to Russia, played well and won well and everything changed after that. Five weeks later, I am leading the Rankings going into the Grand Final with three wins and playing with a lot of confidence. If I hadn’t won in Russia then who knows what would have happened?
“Off the course, it has been a big learning experience for me this year. I have certainly found out that you do not realise what you have until you lose it, with regards to losing your card on the main Tour and the money that you earn there. Yes, you earn a lot on the main Tour but you also spend it, and this year has made me realise that I won’t make that mistake again. On a lighter note, my twin girls started school this year and that was a big moment for them, for their mum and for me. They are growing up so fast!”
TOMMY FLEETWOOD: “My moment of the year has got to be Kazakhstan and that putt on the last. I had 25 feet up the hill and my arms were shaking like mad. I was twitching and everything. It was actually getting embarrassing, so I was pretty happy when I finally managed to hit it. I just remember looking up and from three feet out it was never going anywhere but the hole. That was probably the biggest wave of relief I have ever felt. I have enjoyed the year, and had some good moments in Italy: a hole in one at Acaya, and then I did a Nick Faldo in Italy a few weeks ago in Rome and had 18 pars in a round. Not bad eh, me and Sir Nick!
“I have a pretty quiet life off the course. This is my first full season as a pro, and it can be a bizarre existence at times. I think I spent the first half of the year just trying to adjust and getting things wrong. As a an amateur, you always had a partner or were playing in teams or had people looking after a squad of you, but in the pro game you are on your own and you have to get used that selfish existence. But there is a lot of camaraderie that comes from that and I am loving it.”
DANNY DENNISON:“Obviously the win in Denmark was my best moment. I had a great result in St Omer, but getting my first win as a pro was very special and something that I do occasionally look back on and have a little smile to myself. It’s something that no-one can take away from you.
“Off the course it’s been colourful. I have been having some terrible luck on my travels this year with lost clubs, bags and all that. I have had my bags lost four times in total, but had them back eventually apart from in Rome, where they just didn’t turn up at all. I also got locked up in Kazakhstan for a visa problem. I arrived without a visa there because of some passport mix-up, and I couldn’t get one beforehand. I basically got deported and was on the next flight out of there in a couple of hours, unless I could get the correct letter of invitation I needed for the visa. Thankfully the promoter of the tournament was able to get the right letter, and they eventually released me! I also got jailed in Turkey last year for a similar thing – I must be a dangerous man to travel with!”
CRAIG LEE:“My highlight of the season has yet to come – it’s going to be when I win the Grand Final! No, obviously my highlight of the season came at St Omer where I finished second. I didn’t really realise how big it was at the time, but the second place cheque there was like winning one of the Challenge Tour’s bigger, regular events, so that has comfortably been my best moment of year….so far.
“Away from the course it can be a strange old existence but I have had some great times on Tour this year. In the manliest possible way, myself and my Challenge Tour other half, Mr Chris Doak, have had some great times this year and I think on the Challenge Tour you see a lot of camaraderie between the players because we spend so much time together that you kind of help each other along. It’s one thing that stands out on this Tour: people help each out a lot more.”
FEDERICO COLOMBO:“I don’t know if there is a single one. I played really well in the first half of the season and then dropped off a little but in July in August, but the last couple of months have been better. I think playing well in my home country, at the Roma Golf Open, has been great for me. I am very pleased that he Grand Final will also be played in Italy, at a course that I know, because I want to finish the year strongly.
“I think it has been a great year overall for Italian golf. You see on the main Tour that Edoardo and Francesco [Molinari] and Matteo [Manassero] are big names now, but we also have Lorenzo [Gagli] playing fantastic this year and then there are players coming through the Challenge Tour and our own national Tour. It’s a good time for Italian golf.”
