Much has been written in recent weeks about the heroics of Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy. The former landed the Volvo Masters and Order of Merit title from just 12 starts while the Holywood teenager secured his card after just two events.But one player, another teenage starlet, has enjoyed an incredible season in altogether different circumstances. Zane Scotland became the youngest English player to qulaify for the Open Championship when he made it to Carnoustie in 1999 as a 16-year-old.
Since then he was involved in a car crash, knocking out two vertebrae in his neck, and has had to endure months out of the game and endless trips to physios - these are still ongoing. But he is now back on the European Tour and could be one to follow closely in 2008.
This year he came through 36 holes of qualifying to tee it up at the French Open, where he tied for 12th, and went on to secure his card in just seven events. Chief Executive of the European Tour George O'Grady singled him out for praise in his annual press conference last week and I was lucky enough to speak with him a few days ago.
Zane is refreshingly down-to-earth, interested and interesting, and deserves all the success that lies ahead for him. In this job we get to speak with plenty of players but not many ask questions back and continue the chat after all the necessary questions have been posed.
Like Rose there have been difficult times in the early days of being in the paid ranks but both, in different ways, are now reaping the rewards of their incredible talent and easy-going demeanours.
You can read the full interview with Zane in a future issue of National Club Golfer and on this blog.
3 comments:
I wonder what odds Scotland is to make the Ryder Cup side. Might be worth a fiver!
Was looking at that but they only go down to 16-1 - imagine will be in three figures !
Go get 'em, Zane! I've followed his career from his amateur days and always thought he had what it takes.
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