Changing my swing was a big mistake, says

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forgotten man David Inglis in America

FROM THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS WEBSITE

By MARTIN DEMPSTER
David Inglis, one of the forgotten young men of Scottish golf, insists his best years still lie ahead but is considering making a dramatic return to the amateur ranks.
The 27-year-old from Roslin, pictured right in his youth by Cal Carson Golf Agency, looked set for a bright future in the game after capping an outstanding amateur career by helping Great Britain & Ireland win the Walker Cup at Ganton in 2002.

He has been based in America, where he starred on the college circuit during a spell at the University of Tulsa, since turning professional but admits his game has suffered badly due to swing changes he now regrets.

"I have worked now for the past four years at Bear Lakes Country Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, doing a variety of things from teaching and working in the shop to parking cars at the valet," said Inglis, who was one of Britain's most decorated juniors as he cut his golfing teeth in the Lothians.

"It has been a great place to be, especially in the winter, and has provided me with some help to pursue my golfing ambitions. However, my results over recent years have been a long way from what I am capable of."

Inglis' CV still makes for impressive reading. The Glencorse player lifted the Scottish Under-16 title in 1997 and 1998, the same year he won the R&A Junior Open Championship, before claiming the Faldo Series crown in 1999.

In 2000, he won the British boys' championship – Sergio Garcia lifted that title three years - earlier while Inglis was succeeded by Pablo Martin, another Spaniard who has gone on to be a winner in the paid ranks.

The red-head Scot, who was a Glencorse Golf Club member, also claimed a notable success in that Walker Cup win, beating Ryan Moore, the current world No 51, in the singles on the final day.

"Quite simply, I feel like I made a mistake of trying to change my swing," he said. "I had always done things my own way and never really bothered about it until I turned pro. While my intentions of improving my game and swing so I could compete on tour were good, I don't think I went about it in the right way.

"I got too bogged down with technique and aesthetics and lost focus on what was really important – getting the ball in the hole."

Inglis, who was paid a visit recently by former Scottish boys' champion Lee Harper, has also gone through a divorce that proved difficult to cope with but is hoping things will start to look up for him again soon.

"I've had to work a lot and, while I am not complaining about that, it certainly has cut into the time I have been able to spend on the golf course," he said.

"For the future, I intend to rededicate myself to my golf because I still have the desire to compete. Maybe it will result in me gaining back my amateur status. Who knows just now?

"But I really do feel my best golf is ahead of me still and that is what keeps me motivated to play.
"Obviously, I have considered other careers in this time and I would like to stay in golf as much as I can. I am currently considering a career as a college golf coach over here but it is the middle of the school year and currently there are not many assistant coach jobs open.

"However, the main goal for the winter is to get my game back to where I know it can be."

At the moment, it looks as though Inglis still sees his future lying in the States. He added: "I have a green card (for US employment) until 2018 so for now I'm staying here. But, if I felt it would benefit me, I would consider coming back to Scotland."

*The above article appears in today's Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.