Evergreen Watson geared up to rewind the clock on the island of dreams

17/04/2023

Michael Watson will be looking to bridge a 14-year gap when he exchanges the gusty conditions that can bedevil Cornish links for Mediterranean sunshine in this week’s PGA Play-Offs.

Instead of playing in the annual Cornish Festival, the pro from Wessex Golf Centre in Dorset will be among those getting the Association’s national tournament programme under way at Aphrodite Hills Golf Club, Cyprus.

He will be one of four former winners of the event, a quartet that also includes Paul O’Hara, Mike Bullen, and Matt Cort, champions in 2021, 2019 and 2016 respectively.

Watson’s success came somewhat earlier - just seven years after the opening of the Cavell Robinson-designed course which overlooks the site where Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, is said to have emerged from the sea.

And not only is he the most senior of the four former champions challenging for the £2,500 first prize, at 53 he is also the oldest player in the 24-strong field.

As was evident from his form in the latter half of last season, however, advancing years are not taking their toll on the skills that earned him a place in the 2015 Great Britain and Ireland PGA Cup team.

In addition to booking his place in the PGA Play-Offs thanks to a top three finish in his region’s Order of Merit, Watson finished tied 34^th in the Senior Open presented by Rolex at Gleneagles.

Inevitably he is looking to build on that in the new campaign, starting with the Play-Offs which, as well as the £25,000 prize fund, offer spots in several DP World and Challenge Tour events, including the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, Horizon Irish Open, Betfred British Masters, and ISPA Handa World Invitational.

His preparations have not been helped by the weather, however.

“Apart from playing at the Tour School in January,” he said. “I’ve been confined to the range because the weather has been so bad.

“I also played in a Senior Masters event at Forest Hills last week but we got absolutely smashed by the weather, so the preparation has not been ideal.

“But I’m looking forward to getting some sunshine and 20-degree temperatures, although I’m disappointed not to be playing in the Cornish Festival – it will be the first time in 30 years I’ve missed it.”

Watson’s expectation of favourable conditions contrasts sharply with his knowledge of the course or five-star resort which, together with an extensive practice facility area, two large putting greens, and short game area, comprise the PGA National Cyprus.

“I’ve never been there,” he said. “But I do remember seeing it on TV shortly after lockdown when two European Tour events were played there. It looked very challenging and very different to Little Aston where I won this event before. Hopefully it’s not too long!”

At 6,200-plus metres the course is a similar length to the Kings at Gleneagles where Watson finished ahead of Corey Pavin and Paul McGinley among several other big names in winning €19,000.

The longest hole, the 573-metre par-five third, and one of the shortest, the spectacular 210-metre par-three seventh, involve nerve testing tee shots. A substantial canyon has to be carried to get the ball in play on the former; similarly, the tee shot on the latter must clear a huge gorge to find the green.

It all adds up to a fitting test for the PGA’s must successful 24 golfers in 2022, namely the top three in each of the Association’s seven region’s Order of Merit, the first and second in the PGA Professional Championship and winner of the Coca-Cola PGA Assistants’ Championship.

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