Higgins learning from Q-School of hard knocks
Higgins, who turns 40 at the end of the month, cemented his third domestic Order of Merit by following in the footsteps of his father, Liam to win the PGA Irish Championship at Mount Juliet in a play-off last October.
He has already come through two four-round qualifying stages to reach the six-round final phase, which begins in Catalonia tomorrow and will be joined by fellow Irishmen Peter O’Keeffe, Simon Thornton, Niall Kearney, Gareth Shaw and Chris Devlin in the field of 73 at the PGA Catalunya Resort in Girona.
There are more sad stories around Q-School than happy ones and Higgins likens it to a cup final. He is pleased to have coped with the pressure to date by breezing through the first two stages. While acknowledging nerves can fray more as you get older, the Kerryman believes his years off-Broadway give him an advantage.
“When you’re younger, you kind of think ‘Jeez, if I don’t get through this, how am I going to survive? How am I going to keep playing?’,” Higgins reasoned.
“I haven’t had my card for a few years now and I still survived and made enough money to keep me going. That stands to me. I’m not saying it’s okay not to get through it but it’s not the end of the world. I’m trying to go with that attitude of ‘I’ll give it everything I’ve got’.”
There is no escaping the unique nature of an all-or-nothing event though.
“If you were playing 25 Tour Schools in one year, you’d be a bit more aggressive on certain shots, you’d go for it and take things on. Because it’s only one, you have to play kind of conservatively.
“The hardest part of the week is staying out of your own way.”
He remains highly ambitious and is grateful for the support of his wife Elizabeth, which enables him to continue pursuing the dream. Last winter, he practiced in Barbados courtesy of millionaire racing moguls, JP McManus and John Magnier.
The rewards were evident at home, and when he got his chance in one of the European Tour’s most prized events, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, he spent the week at the sharp end of things to finish tied for 10th.
The €78,300 cheque was the biggest of his 18-year professional career, very welcome at a time when he and Elizabeth were doing up their home outside Caherciveen. More than that though, it gave Higgins renewed belief that he could prosper in such a rarefied atmosphere. Despite that though, there is no competition when it comes to picking the highlight of his year. Because winning the Irish PGA was the one everyone celebrated at Waterville Golf Club.
“I remember as a young fella looking at that trophy and when you’re small, it looks like the size of a car… it was something I always wanted to win because my father had won it.
“This year my cousin [Andy Daly] was caddying and we won it in a play-off so there was a lot of pressure. It was very satisfying and I was very proud to do it because it meant a lot.
“It wasn’t for the money, although the money was nice, but it was just to get the name on the trophy and it’s there now forever more. It’s a real nice feeling.”
Emulating his father was “definitely a motivation” in the play-off and being the first father and son to claim the prestigious title is something they both treasure. Right now though, Higgins is focussing on a new target, convinced that he can deliver.
“I’m on the right track. My game is good and good things will come. I feel confident and I’m looking forward to the years ahead.”
Starting tomorrow.
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