Irish quintet in 156-man field battling for Tour cards

Five Irish are among the 156-man field who will tee off at PGA Catalunya this morning, hoping to secure a European Tour card for the next 12 months.

Peter Lawrie, Michael McGeady, Simon Thornton, Gareth Maybin and Kevin Phelan may all be at different stages of their careers, but each knows what’s at stake the next six days. It’s an event Tournament Director Mike Stewart declared “one of golf’s toughest challenges” and little wonder, because over six rounds at the end of a very long season for most, the immediate careers of so many are on the line.

“It’s shit or bust here really this week isn’t it?”, deadpans Stewart.