Ruaidhrí McGee and Kevin Phelan are one step away from securing a European Tour card after both qualified from second stage events in Spain.

Irish golf has never produced as many players willing to chase the ultimate dream of a place on the game’s major tours. Whether they can afford to follow their dreams is another matter altogether.

Simon Thornton loves the challenge, but David Higgins believes you’d have to be mad to say you enjoy the experience of battling for your livelihood in the marathon European Tour Qualifying School.

Waterville golfer David Higgins landed in Spain on Wednesday ahead of his bid to bring the curtain down on a memorable season by emerging from the infamously torturous Q-School with a prized European Tour card.

ENGLAND’S Jamie Elson epitomised the fighting spirit needed to succeed at the six-round European Tour Qualifying School when he holed a unlikely 40-foot bomb for birdie on his 108th and final hole of the week to earn his card on the seven under par limit.

ENGLAND’S David Dixon blasted a five under par 67 to take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the European Tour Qualifying School finals in Spain.

A FINAL hole bogey and a brilliant finish by Austrian Hans Peter Bacher ended David Higgins’ dream of a Tour return at the European Tour Qualifying School Finals at PGA Catalunya Resort in Spain.

WORLD No 1 Lee Westwood has questioned the PGA’s decision to award America’s Ricky Fowler the Rookie of the Year title over his Ryder Cup teammate Rory McIroy.

BIG-HITTING Damian Mooney followed up the longest drive ofhis career with a solid opening round in the frost-delayed European Tour Qualifying School finals at PGA Catalunya Resort in Spain.