Michael McDermott happy with change of direction

His time on the PGA EuroPro Tour may not have suited Michael McDermott but life as a PGA professional has helped him find happiness in achieving a good life-golf-work balance and enabled him to finally make his debut at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

The 34-year-old Dubliner will tee up in his national Open for the first time at Royal County Down today, the reward for a strong 2014 season on the Irish PGA Regional Order of Merit and coming 11 years after first turning pro.

McDermott got his PGA qualifications in 2009 and plied his trade at Leopardstown Golf Centre until January before becoming an in-store PGA Pro at American Golf in Dundrum.