Paisley no longer in search of perfection
2014-10-24 19:29:51

By Nick Totten, europeantour.com
At Foshan Golf Club 

This season has seen the diminutive Chris Paisley take a rather unexpected journey in his quest for professional stardom after several years of serene progress through the ranks – both amateur and paid – was halted at the final hurdle.

As can often be the way for talented youngsters, the North-east of England native’s passage to The European Tour was one that saw him progress at every level, year upon year, until he narrowly missed out on retaining his place in The Race to Dubai for 2014.

No more than 12 places, and €39,261, stood between him and the retention of his place amongst the game’s elite, which many would of course consider an achievement in itself during a rookie campaign.

For Paisley though it was the first time he had failed to make a step forward – in his eyes – and that somewhat discombobulated the 28 year old as he headed into a second season on the European Challenge Tour, a fact that has seen the Englishman not quite manage to show his true colours on the course this season.

Thursday at the Foshan Open though, was a glimpse of the game that had got him to the summit of the sport just a couple of years prior, and after a little soul searching amongst the fairways and greens of the second tier, his 68 on Thursday was a real step in the right direction.

“It hasn’t been the best year for me,” said the man at 65th on the Rankings. “My game has been coming round for a little while, but I have not really shot the scores, so it was nice to finally get a good one going today.

“I really like the course here, and the event as a whole is probably the best we have played so far this year. Last week my long game was good but I kind of struggled on the greens, so I did a lot of putting practice the last couple of days, and I am still hitting the ball well, so I feel quietly confident about my chances.

“I think a lot of it this year has been mental to be honest, as I just missed out on keeping my card on The European Tour, and it was the first time I hadn’t progressed in my golfing career. My confidence took a bit of a hit from that, even though I actually played OK last year, and just narrowly missed out.

“Now this year it has just been a case of trying too hard, and looking for perfection in my golf swing and in everything, which I think is quite a dangerous thing for a golfer. The last few months I have gone back to what I have always done – to try and get better every day – and that has been my only focus. The form has turned round since then, and it hasn’t been so much technical, but my mind set this year which hasn’t been as good as it usually is.”

The talented amateur who struggles to make it as a professional, or the early winner who fades into obscurity, and everything in between – tales that have long been told within a game that has little respect for reputation.

Paisley is therefore not alone in the struggles he has experienced, on a Tour where he has a little company in that respect, but there is no doubt now as to the mind-set of the 2012 English Challenge winner, as he attempts to rediscover the form that had seen him make such swift progress until now.

“I had progressed every year,” said Paisley. “As an amateur I improved every season, then in my first year as a pro I was on the Alps Tour and graduated through that, before heading to the Challenge Tour and graduating there.

“That was quite a nice little rise for me, then obviously last year was a bit of a confidence blow, and something unusual. I could have dealt with it a bit better, but I feel like I am turning a corner now.

“I can’t imagine there is a golfer who has ever lived that hasn’t gone through a tough little spell, and this is mine, and it really isn’t that bad. I feel like I am coming out of it though, and I will just keep improving from here.

“I can’t think about what position I am on the Rankings to get into certain events, and I just need to keep doing what I have been for the last little while – do the right things – and keep working away and chipping away at stuff and hopefully the results will come.

“I am just taking it one day at a time at the moment, as most of this year I was a little flustered, and worried about where it was going. Now though I am feeling pretty comfortable, and just working on things, and I’ll keep doing that and everything will work out one way or the other.”