Sergio hoping new coach will lift game

Sergio Coyle hopes a new coach will boost his performance this season as he prepares for the PGA Assistants’ Irish qualifying event, supported by Birdietime.

The Dublin-based second year assistant Coyle is now working with Cork professional Michael Collins.

Coyle is set to tee off in the Assistants' qualifier which is being held at Co Meath Golf Club on May 1.

He will be hoping to reach the £32,000 grand final at Farleigh Golf Club in Surrey between July 3-5.

“I’ve got a new coach and I’m working with Michael Collins now,” said Coyle.

“What I’ve learned is that you can’t be your own coach. It’s hard for any pro to stop yourself from coaching yourself.

“I said I wouldn’t do that this year. And it’s been working so far.

“I was around people who - not that I shouldn’t have been around - but who weren’t guiding me in the right way.

“Michael’s been putting me in the right direction. If I have any doubts, I can talk it over with him.”

And Coyle - who has just completed his latest set of PGA exams - is putting everything into the link with Collins.

And he is likely to have a coaching session with him before the event at the Trim venue.

“I have early morning sessions with him which means leaving my home in Dublin at 4am,” he explained.

“That gets me down there for 7am every two weeks. But I can see it on the course and in my game, there’s more consistency.

“And it’s helped with my studies too. It’s given me a fresh set of eyes.

“I’d like to go every week, but he won’t allow me, he wants me back every fortnight for three hours.

“He says there’s no such thing as a straight golf shot, it’s either left to right, or right to left, he’s been getting that into me. He’s improved my game greatly.

“I might go to see him before the event at Co Meath.

“The million dollar question is whether it improves my results.”