Sensational putting earns Tom Murray a start in Foshan
2015-10-21 01:14:01

Englishman dedicates his win in last week’s Irish Challenge to his girlfriend who is wheelchair bound after a serious accident five years ago.

   
The golfing season has suddenly started to sparkle for Tom Murray from England. Going into last week’s Volopa Irish Challenge on the European Challenge Tour, the 25 year old was languishing in 78th place in the Tour rankings and seemingly with no hope of getting a start in the Foshan Open.

He had learned to cope with a string of lackluster performances by reminding himself of his 21 year old girlfriend, Sophie, who suffered a serious car accident five years ago and has had to use a wheelchair.

“It does give you perspective and when she had her accident, I started putting her initials on my golf ball to remind me that if I hit a bad shot, it doesn’t really matter,” he said.
Sophie hasn’t sat back, however, and has gone on to become captain of the Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball team, winning the gold medal in the Women’s U25 Wheelchair Basketball World Championships earlier this year.

Standing on the final green in Ireland, Murray needed to sink a long putt of 25 feet to tie for the lead and go into a play-off.  As if inspired by Sophie’s achievements, Murray sensationally holed the putt and then went on to win the play-off after holing an even longer putt of 30 feet.
“The way I lined up my putt on the final hole, I could see her initials,” said Tom. “To be honest, the only thought going through my head was ‘she’ll be buzzing if I hole this’.  I didn’t take much time over the play-off putt. I knew the read – a bit uphill and to the right – and it was the best putt of the day.”

The win leapt the young Englishman up to 31st in the Tour ranking and a spot in the Foshan Open.
“To get a first win is big. It’s all kind of surreal right now” he said.

ENDS.