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Former PGA Cup hero Darren Parris will attempt to rediscover his best form and earn another crack at America when he competes in the south region qualifier for the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship next week.
The 36 year old Kent pro hit the headlines four years ago when he bagged a maximum five point haul to help Great Britain & Ireland reclaim the Llandudno Trophy from the USA at The K Club after a 21 year gap.
Parris from North Foreland Golf Club returns to the fray among 74 hopefuls teeing up at Prince’s next week (Wednesday May 20) with the leading finishers qualifying for the grand final at Dundonald Links in June.
The £78,000 final will also see the team decided for the 24th PGA Cup matches against the USA which take place in Scotland later in the year at The Carrick on Loch Lomond.
Parris would love nothing more than to make the team again but admits he will need to sharpen up his game with a young family and busy pro shop giving him little time for practice.
“It’s four years now since I hit the high spots but I just can’t give the time to my game that I’d like,” he said.
“Having said that, I like Prince’s, I’ve played it often, so who knows? I’d certainly love to play at Dundonald.”
Others in with a good chance of bagging a qualification place include Paul Page (King’s Hill) who is famously the last man to beat Tiger Woods as an amateur when he defeated him in the 1993 US Amateur Championship.
Also in action at Prince’s will be Simon Wood (Hythe Imperial) and Scott Steven (Staplehurst), sixth in last year’s Order of Merit.
Meanwhile host pro Anthony Tarchetti will be trying to qualify for the first time in the flagship event which is being sponsored for a record 17th year by Glenmuir.
Tarchetti won the region’s 2007 Order of Merit, and has the distinction of scoring 59 not once but three times in the last two years – at Dartford (-10), Chislehurst (-7) and Wimbledon Park.(-7).
“The Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship always marks the start of the tournament season for PGA pros, and we’re really looking forward to this year’s qualifying finals,” said the company’s marketing director, Andy Bough.
“Now more than ever the Glenmuir Championship offers professionals the chance to compete with fellow professionals, but also to meet and share views and ideas on current trading. We hope all of the competitors will enjoy this year’s tournament.”
Notes to editors:
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.
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 PGA, the PGAs of Europe, 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.