Maturer McGrane ready to swing

THE Tour School at the end of each European season is reputed to be the most nerve-wracking event in sport.

A professional golfer's future is at stake over six rounds on a couple of tough Spanish courses with only 35 qualifying for cards each year. Many a fine player has been broken by the School's peculiar demands.

Damien McGrane, the 32-year-old club professional at Wexford, knows all about what it takes to cope and recently came up with a very definite solution he played superbly at Emporda just outside Barcelona to tie for third, closing out with a 66 for a card that will enable him to play as many tournaments on the European Tour in 2004 as he wants.

Damien also came through the School 12 months previously, but back in a tie for 38th place and as a consequence didn't have sufficient chances to get among the top 115 who automatically retained their playing privileges.

Even so, the Kells-born McGrane insisted that he had chances during the season which he didn't take, most notably in Majorca when he was only one shot off the lead going out in the final round and again at the Lancome Trophy where he finished 10th but claims he could have done better.

But McGrane was not downhearted. Why? Because he knew his game was on an upward spiral, something which made the return to the Tour School far less of an intimidating proposition.

"I went out there and to be honest, I had a slow start," he said.

"After that, I shot a few low scores every day and then finished with a 66 which was nice.

"Before going out on the final day, I was lucky enough. There was a delay of an hour or so. I had a cup of tea in the clubhouse and managed to relax, to wind down a bit.

"The trouble with the Tour School is that the pressure builds up with every day. Another problem is that you're bored to death out there. It's a killer. The players just self-destruct because there's nothing to do."

But McGrane conquered that pressure with ease, especially on the final day. "I hit a good drive up the first, hit a few good iron shots, made a couple of birdies early on, managed to concentrate on my score, one under, two under, three under, four under, and I tried to keep that going.

"I was never on the outside of the line (the top 30) trying to get in. That's where the real pressure lies. I was cruising along whereas I noticed on the back nine a few players seemed to fall off the leaderboard and I knew if I could just keep going and do my own thing, that I'd do very well.

"You can talk about pressure, you can talk about anything you want, but I knew if I played okay out there, I would get my card.

"I could beat myself, as we all can, but the golfing gods didn't do me any harm. I hit a lot of good shots. I had eight or nine bogeys in six rounds, in any man's language, that's excellent.

"It might be the qualifying school but if you see a two hundred yard shot across water to a green, you take out a four iron or whatever and go for it. You have to. Nobody thinks twice about it. Because par is no good.

"If I had shot level par in the last two rounds, I'd have been miles away from getting a card. You have to push on.

"The standard now has improved so much that everybody goes forward in every round. It was nice to be so far ahead of the posse. I was glad to get a good card because I felt I deserved it. Now I'm looking forward to the new season. It is a great opportunity for me."

And in spite of all he has achieved, McGrane made a surprise confession. "The reason I got into golf in 1991 was to be a club pro, not a European Tour player or anything else," he said.

"That is first and foremost in my mind and it's what I enjoy most. I can relax, unwind, take it easy.

"Wexford are happy enough with the arrangement and to have me represent them. They support me financially. The place has been a good luck charm for me. I love representing them and I'd never give it up.

"My golf has matured and now I'm a member of the European Tour but that's just a perk of the job. I have a couple of assistants back in Wexford and they keep the home fires burning.

"I don't have a main sponsor as yet and I need one badly. You can't play on the European Tour without a real sponsor.

"I'm very grateful to the club and the Irish Golf Trust for their continuing support which is fantastic and badly needed."

Damien is married to Geraldine and they have two children, Gemma, 5, and Ethan, 4, so long stints away from home are not always to his liking.

"It's difficult on us all. There's a lot of travelling and then when I'm home, I can be fatigued, tired, sometimes I'm in great form and sometimes not so good.

"We're playing for a lot of money. All it takes is a few good weeks as Peter [Lawrie] and Gary [Murphy] have shown. Peter's achievement was fantastic and I'm delighted for him.

"However, the fact that I've won the third card at the School means zero to me right now. It's what I do with the card that counts.

"So I'm looking forward to playing the bigger and better events which I didn't have the chance to play in 2003.

"I don't set myself targets. I have a good caddy, John Hort from Australia. He was with me for the second half of the season and while I won't say he did wonders for me, he certainly helped me maximise every round and get the best out of it.

"When I was in contention, he kept me there. He's been on the Tour twenty years and so he knows what it's all about. When I need guidance, he can guide me."