Cliff and Irvine make it a Scottish 1-2 once

again for Titleist PGA Assistant of the Year

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE PGA
A Scottish golf pro overcame a broken leg to secure second spot in the prestigious Titleist PGA Assistant of the Year rankings – and ensure a Tartan Army 1-2 finish.
Robert Irvine, newly-appointed head professional at Glasgow’s Douglas Park Golf Club, claimed the runner-up spot in the final year of his PGA foundation degree behind Murrayfield’s Jonnie Cliff.
It is the second successive year that the pair have finished first and second. Irvine, who collected a cheque for £2,500 from England football legend Sir Bobby Charlton at the PGA’s graduation ceremony at the University of Birmingham today, admitted he had tried hard to overcome Cliff – despite having to take his exams with his leg in plaster, having snapped it playing football just three weeks earlier.
“To finish second for the second year running is an amazing achievement. I’d had a tough time so it was a really big deal to finish second last year,” said the Kinross-born 28-year-old.
“I wanted to push on from that and be the Assistant of the Year, but Jonnie was also pushing for the same thing.“The fact that we’re one and two again this year is great for Scotland and Scottish golf. I think the fact that both of us came into the profession having done other work before was also a strong motivating factor.
"But credit also to our PGA mentor John Mulgrew who pushed us and guided us so we both knew what we needed to do to succeed.”
Irvine, who had achieved a degree in sport science from the University of Edinburgh prior to taking the three-year PGA course, joined Douglas Park last month, having previously served his apprenticeship at Kilmacolm.
“I wanted to go out on my own and this was a great opportunity to set up and have my own business,” said Irvine.“When I took up the game I knew I was never going to be the next Tiger Woods but I knew I wanted to work in sport. I played golf to a good level and was the first junior to win the men's open at Kinross. I went on and did sport science at university and now call on the analytical skills and psychology from that and put that into my teaching.”
Training and education remains an integral part of the PGA with the foundation degree, while the PGA also runs an honours degree in association with the University of Birmingham. Once qualified, PGA members also undergo a process of continual professional development to keep them up to speed with all the latest developments in the sport.
PGA Chief Executive Sandy Jones said: "While graduation day marks the end of three years' hard work for these talented and dedicated golfers, it also signals the beginning of an exciting and rewarding career in golf.
"I think all the graduates deserve huge applause for outstanding efforts, having successfully completed their PGA education programme. I wish them all successful careers in golf, whatever direction they take and wherever they travel."
Titleist’s director of sales and marketing Ken Graham said: “PGA professionals play a key role in golf at all levels of the game and Titleist is delighted to be supporting the next generation of highly qualified professionals.
“As ever at the PGA graduation ceremony we have been impressed by the standards achieved by yet another outstanding crop of Titleist Assistants of the Year.”

+++Image above of Robert Irvine (end left) with Sir Bobby Charlton, 2009 Titleist PGA Assistant of the Year Jonnie Cliff and PGA Captain Jim Farmer (end right) by courtesy of Jamie Jones Photography