McGrane proving that hard work pays off

Damien McGrane might not have won the KLM Open on Sunday but his professional trajectory continues to be an example to Ireland’s budding tour stars — the poster boy for those who bite the bullet and take the PGA assistants’ route to the top.

Few are like Rory McIlroy or Graeme McDowell, players so talented they could earn their European Tour cards on invitations alone, making enough money in their first few starts (or winning in the case of McDowell) to earn their places in the big circus.

Fewer still have McGrane’s ability to believe implicitly in their ability, set out a realistic plan and execute it as well as the Meath man has since he turned professional 21 years ago as another member of what he self-deprecatingly calls the Mars bar selling brigade.