Jamie McLeary feels that the school of hard knocks that is the Challenge Tour is the premium preparation for life in the big time of European golf but his playing partner today in Aviemore may be in more of a hurry on his way to golf’s premier league.
The 29-year-old from Kinross is defending his Scottish Hydro Challenge title this week at the Spey Valley course near Aviemore, still aiming to get himself off the junior tour on to the main circuit.
But Matteo Manassero, the youngest ever amateur champion and the already-anointed new star of European golf, plans merely a brief stop on his way to bigger things, having already played in the BMW Championship at Wentworth this year.
McLeary was still four places off one of the 20 European Tour cards despite his win at Spey Valley and when he sees the successes of Eduardo Molinari, Rhys Davies and his old Fife team-mate Peter Whiteford (all 2009 Challenge Tour graduates) this year, it underlines his belief that simply getting to the top level is more than half the battle.
“There’s a lot of good players on this tour, and if you win one of those 20 cards you’ve fully earned it,” he said.
“I’d go as far to say that there are some guys here who are as good, if not better, than those on the main tour.
“It’s just getting on to the European Tour that is the main problem because you’re pretty battle-hardened when you get there.”Financial backingIt hasn’t been a vintage year so far for Scots on the Challenge Tour with veteran Raymond Russell best placed at 16th, but the help offered to other nationalities is on the way with the Scottish Government scheme to help young pros through the Scottish Golf Union announced earlier this year.
“It’s a good thing, but maybe ten years too late,” he said. “The Irish have had the same financial backing for a decade and look at how many of their players are doing well on tour.
“There always seems to be more for the English guys from their local sponsors. I myself have got some financial help from a friend who is English.”
McLeary is currently 44th on the rankings, but feels that a good result is just around the corner.
“I’ve been playing quite solid, giving myself a chance, and I love this course,” he said.
“It’s a grinders’ track where you have to keep the ball in play and out of the heather and that suits me.”
It’s a spectacular setting and as far north as Manassero has been in his 17 years, and unsurprisingly he was feeling the summer chill off the still snow-flecked Cairngorms.
However the prodigy, identified as a coming star before his teens and confirmed by his amateur win at Formby a year ago, his 13th place at the Open at Turnberry and being the youngest player to make the cut at the Masters, wants to see more of Scotland soon.
“It is very cold — more than I expected,” he admitted.Invitations”I want to play the Scottish Open in July and am planning for it but I have seven invites on the main tour and I will play Munich and the French and then decide.”
The young Italian also has seven invitations for the Challenge Tour, and the Scottish Hydro Challenge is the first of those.
Taking the £27,000 first prize here would probably launch Matteo straight into the top five of the Challenge Tour and well on the way to one of the 20 cards that come through the junior circuit, but he is conscious not to be over-impatient.
“I’ve done well in my two main tour starts so far, with good finishes at home in Italy and at Wentworth, but it’s important to stay patient if the results don’t come,” he agreed.
The duo play with current Challenge Tour leader Robert Dinwiddie today in a field that features 30 Scots, many of whom will be auditioning for some of that Scottish Government backing when it comes onstream next year.
Recent professional graduates Callum Macaulay, Gavin Dear, Kevin McAlpine, Scott Henry and Keir McNicoll are all present with older established Challenge Tour players like George Murray, Eric Ramsay and Lloyd Saltman, perhaps the most prominent of the failures in developing quality amateurs into competitive professionals in recent times.
Tartan Tour pros like Craig Lee — winner of the Northern Open here last year — Scott Henderson, Chris Doak and Lee Harper will be a threat also.
There’s an added incentive for the field with the announcement that the winner will also secure a place in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in August.