Damian Ulrich is once again carrying home hopes on his shoulders at the Rolex Trophy, and a five under par score in round one was the perfect start for the only Swiss player in the field at Golf Club de Genève.
Six birdies in his first eight holes were the foundation to the Zurich born professional’s success on Thursday, with a dropped shot at the ninth and a string of pars on the back side still enough for him to finish amongst the leaders, with the late starters still to complete their rounds.
This venue has proved a happy hunting ground for Ulrich in the past, as just 12 months ago he recorded his best ever European Challenge Tour result, thanks to rounds of 69-65-65-70 en route to a fifth place finish some four strokes adrift of eventual winner Jens Dantorp.
That result on home soil proved a great fillip to the rest of Ulrich's season in 2013, and he went on to record another top five result a few weeks later at the Kharkov Superior Cup in Ukraine.
He therefore returns to Geneva – a place he enjoys visiting – looking for a similar upturn in fortunes as he received a year ago, and will hope to improve on his current Challenge Tour Ranking of 111th with his teacher on the bag for moral support this week.
“I felt very confident with my coach on the bag," said Ulrich. "It is strange, I have had many professional caddies but with Steve (Rey), it is different. I can't explain it, but he knows me very well. He doesn't need to talk a lot, but knowing he is here, I behave the right way.”
“I hit the par four first in one and two putted for birdie. Then on the second, I chipped in, and on the next I holed out from the bunker, before a ten footer for birdie on the fourth. I also hit it very close to the flag on the sixth and eighth, but unfortunately three putted the ninth. On the back nine I played as solid, but just didn't hole any putts.”
“I always like to come to Geneva, as when I was playing as a junior we had a lot of events here, so I know quite a few people here like the manager, the caddie master and many former juniors are now members here. It is always a pleasure to come back.
“Last here, my good result during the Rolex Trophy was a real springboard for the end of the season. I played well here, then again in Crans-Montana, before I recorded a fifth place in Ukraine.
“I have had some mental issues on the course this year as my game has not been bad, but I had some problems with myself and golf in general, with many questions in my mind.
“Last year I had the feeling I had the level of game to succeed at the Qualifying School, but failed. I was easily upset on course and in 2014 it has been the same story, as I have lost my temper so many times on the course.
“The goal this week is to find my path again and to make some decisions for the end of the season.”
As well as an opportunity to earn some much needed Euros for the Rankings, this week also proves a great reminder to the professionals teeing it up, and especially Ulrich, as to why they started playing the game in the first place, thanks to its Pro-Am format.
“It is always very nice to play with the juniors to start this event,” said the 30 year old. “It helps me to remember why I am playing golf, as the juniors only want to have fun playing their sport, whereas we pros often forget, especially when we have bad weeks, why we are playing.”
“The juniors remind me how much I love the game and why I wanted to play, and the next few days playing with the amateurs is great. It is not like the Pro-Am we have during a regular event, as firstly they are all good players, and they also totally understand that there are two competitions, and that one is important to us.”
