Rock Spark Drives Taylor To Success
Published: 04 June 2009
Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship Press Release
Danny Taylor will bid to draw inspiration from his close pal and rising European Tour star Robert Rock as bids to win Great Britain’s flagship event for PGA professionals later this month.
The Lichfield-based golfer is one of 20 Midland pros among the 156-strong field competing for the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship at Dundonald Links from June 16-19.
And Taylor, a coach at Swingers Golf Range, would love nothing more than to take a leaf out of Rock’s book after he came close to winning his maiden European Tour title at last month’s Irish Open.
Taylor has focused all his efforts towards taking the Glenmuir title which carries a £10,000 top prize and automatic qualification for the Great Britain and Ireland PGA Cup team to face the United States in September.
“I want to win the PGA Professional Championship and get back into the PGA Cup team – that’s my goal,” said Taylor, who was part of the GB&I team that narrowly missed out on victory in America two years ago.
“I’ve been working hard all winter in preparation for it. The PGA Cup experience in Georgia two years ago was one of the best of my career and I want to be involved again.”
However Taylor admits that the Dundonald Links, near Troon, is a daunting prospect having experienced its full fury during last year’s Tour School.
“If the wind blows it’s going to be hell. It’s probably the toughest course I have ever played,” he said.
“At Q-school they were moving the tees up 40 yards – and at one hole they had to move them up 60 yards because it was a par four and no-one could reach with two woods.
“But it’s a quality golf course, one of the toughest and whoever wins is going to have to play four good rounds.”
Taylor, who has just about forgiven Rock for saying it wasn’t worth betting on him ahead of the Irish Open, has been avidly following his friend’s progress and knows the shoe will be on the other foot when he tees up in the Glenmuir.
“I remember before the last PGA Cup talking to Robert and he said the one thing he’d wanted to do was to get in a PGA Cup team,” he added.
Taylor will be hoping Rock can provide the spark to landing the flagship event for British and Irish pros.
“His success this year is an inspiration for me and also all the young PGA assistants coming through, playing in regional events and harbouring dreams of making it on tour,” said the 35-year-old.
“We’ve all done that, Robert’s done that, but he’s showed if you stick at it you can get success.”
Other Midland pros looking to make their claim for glory at Dundonald Links include 2006 champion Paul Wesselingh (Kedleston Park), Darren Prosser (Halfpenny Green), Ian Walley (Shirland), James Crompton (Kenilworth), Shane Rose (Cold Ashby) and Scott Emery (Woodhall Spa).
Follow the fortunes of the 156 strong field with live scoring from Dundonald Links exclusively on www.PGA.info
Dundonald Links will also host the Glenmuir Women’s PGA Professional Championship over June 18 and 19.
Notes to editors:
About the PGA
The Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) has been at the forefront of developing professional golf and promoting interest in the game since it was formed in 1901. Based at The Belfry, it has seven regional offices, represents 7,500 qualified professionals working in more than 60 countries worldwide and annually organises more than 900 golf tournaments and events. The PGA is also the trustee of the Ryder Cup Trophy and a partner in Ryder Cup Ltd.
About Glenmuir
Glenmuir is a brand right at the heart of golf. Preferred supplier to the European Ryder Cup team for 20 years, it also enjoys partnerships with the PGAs of Europe, The PGA, The European Tour, The Open Championship, and The English Golf Union. Glenmuir is official clothing supplier to the Golf Foundation, Ryder Cup Wales 2010, The SLGA, and The Golf Union of Wales.