CHALLENGE TOUR WINNER PETER WHITEFORD

WAS ABOUT TO LOOK FOR A NON-GOLF JOB!

From Michael Gibbons

Press Officer, Challenge Tour

Like so many golfers before him, living the dream as a touring professional, Peter Whiteford was facing up to the reality of getting a “proper job” just a few weeks ago.
Playing golf full time without sponsorship, the Kirkcaldy 27 year old, a former Scotland voy international who turned professional five years ago, had begun thinking of a career off the fairways as the financial burden of chasing a place on the European Tour began to outweigh the tantalising prospect of making his fortune alongside the likes of Els, Harrington and Montgomerie at European golf’s top table.
Four winless years on the Challenge Tour, coupled with six unsuccessful trips to The European Tour Qualifying School were taking their toll, to the point where Whiteford found himself dialling the number for a “no experience necessary” job advertisement in a local newspaper.
“The first thing the guy on the phone asked me was what experience did I have,” smiled Whiteford after saving his career with his first Challenge Tour victory at the Dutch Futures, worth €22,400 (£15,602).
“I told him I didn’t have any experience, that’s why I was calling them because their advert had said ‘no experience necessary’. I explained my situation and he said to call back when I get back from travelling. I’m pleased to say I won’t be calling him back.”
Whiteford’s tale is not uncommon in golf, especially in the UK, where thousands upon thousands of talented players chase the dream but come up short.
Now 26th on the Challenge Tour Rankings after his win in Holland, Whiteford has the four remaining Challenge Tour events on the 2007 Schedule to break into the all important top 20 and win a place on The European Tour next season.
He is optimistic about finishing the job after convincing himself he is good enough to compete with the best. Much of that new found belief will stem from his stunning third round at the Golfclub Houtrak when, amidst incessant driving rain and gusting winds, Whiteford produced a peerless performance to card a quite astonishing score of nine under par 63 and open up a nine stroke lead going into the final round.
“It is just good to finally prove yourself,” he continues. “I have always felt I was good enough to win on the Challenge Tour and get onto The European Tour but it is only after you have done it that you can feel there is a genuine reason to believe.
“I still have a lot of work to do to get into that top 20 but I can take a lot from winning at this stage of the season. I know I am playing well and the confidence is up, so hopefully I can finish it off. It’s a nice feeling to have after thinking about quitting the game a couple of weeks ago.
“I would never want to give up golf, but it is very tough without sponsorship, as so many British players find. I am just delighted that I have a nice winner’s cheque from Holland on its way into my bank – that will keep me going and means I definitely won’t be looking for jobs in the paper for a while.”