David Drysdale interview: Steady driver

Published on Saturday 4 July 2009 19:29

LAST SUNDAY evening David Drysdale was really quite excited, giddy even. But it wasn't a tie for fourth place in the BMW International Open – his third top-four finish of this European Tour season – that had the 34-year-old Berwickshire resident bouncing. Nor was it the fact that winnings of ?358,883 currently make him the leading Scot (he lies 43rd) in the Race to Dubai standings. Even his ascent to 176th on the world rankings – a career-high – wasn't enough to get Drysdale goin

Oh no, none of those heady achievements came close to the level of anticipation he was feeling over the imminent arrival of his new lawn mower. Monty may have his Bentley, Greg Norman might have his private jet, but "Double-D" is perfectly happy sitting atop the machine that trims the 270-yard long practice fairway he lovingly tends immediately outside his front door in Cockburnspath.

"I must admit I find cutting the grass very therapeutic," says, through what is just the hint of an embarrassed grin. "And it won't be long before my practice area is expanded, so I'll be out there even more in future."

Time spent on the range has certainly been paying off this season for a man who has endured more than most the inevitable ups and downs of life on tour. Twice Drysdale has pulled up an agonising one place short of the magic top-115 who secure a European Tour card. In 2006 he missed out by only ?1,139, which doesn't seem much until you discover that, one year before, the margin between him and all-exempt safety was but ?586. And let's not even get into the ten times he has made the arduous trek to Spain for the six-round horror show known as the European Tour's Qualifying School.

Through it all though, Drysdale has kept plugging away, searching for the break every career in sport needs. And exactly one year ago that impetus arrived in the shape of coach David Downie. The pair got together at Loch Lomond during the Scottish Open and it wasn't long before the quality of Drysdale's shots and results began to show a marked improvement.

"My game really started to come around at the Belfry last September," he recalls. "I had been hitting the ball well on the range for a couple of weeks before I was drawn with Paul McGinley and Francesco Molinari on the last day of the British Masters. I totally outplayed both of them. My ball striking was so much better than theirs. I remember walking up to the 18th green and looking up at the big screen. Paul's earnings were listed as something like ?800,000. Francisco was something like ?793,000. And I was on ?133,000. I came off incredulous that they had won six times what I had. I knew then I could do so much better."

And he has, a fact that has much to do with his finding a coach speaking a language he can understand.

"Much of what I have achieved this year is through finding the right teacher and having a method I can really believe in," says Drysdale. "I've never been this consistent. David has helped me a massive amount since we started working together.

"He was taught by Bob Torrance for 12 years, so he inevitably places a lot of emphasis on how the lower half of the body works. My leg action was pathetic before he got a hold of me. I used to straighten my right leg and lift up on the backswing, then have to lose height on the way back to the ball. That's hard to repeat consistently. I'm not 100 per cent yet, of course, but I'm a lot better. All I focus on is retaining the flex in my right knee on the backswing and turning my right hip as soon as the club moves away from the ball. That's all I think about."

The upgrade in Drysdale's technique has also led to a huge reduction in what was long a frustration for those inclined to follow his career. Always susceptible to temptation when, say, a risky shot over water beckoned, he would too often throw a double or triple bogey into an otherwise perfectly satisfactory round of golf. Armed with a better swing and, in turn, more confidence, the Drysdale cards are now marked by a lack of sevens and eights.

"I'm definitely more sensible and more patient on the course," he acknowledges. "I'm not trying to force birdies like I used to. And if a shot is a bit iffy, I'm more likely to play safe. In the past I was always inclined to think I could pull off any shot. Now I listen more to my caddie and lay up. I'm less susceptible to temptation, which is not to say that I never go for anything. If a shot is, say, 40-60 I'll still take it on. It's still not in my nature to lay up. And I have to be true to myself."

Whatever the formula, it seems to be working and has inevitably led to a revision of Drysdale's short and long-term goals.

"At the start of this year my target was to retain my card as soon as possible, by the Irish Open in May if possible," he reveals. "I achieved that. Now I'm thinking about staying in the top 60 on the money list and going to Dubai in November. But my main aim is to put myself in contention more often.

"I should have won the Open de Andalucia in Seville back in March. I had chances but hit a couple of poor shots down the stretch. My mistake was thinking I had to hit great shots in order to win. I didn't. I won't make the mistake of going for the flag with a 2-iron on a 240-yard par-3 again. That wasn't the most sensible shot given the situation I was in. I was trying to force a birdie to get ahead.

"I've had other chances, especially in Johannesburg in January. I wasn't really in contention to win last week in Munich; Nick Dougherty just played too well for that. But I want to get up there again. Having a chance to win on Sunday afternoon is what it is all about."

Just about the only thing Drysdale hasn't yet given much thought to is the still far-off prospect of a Ryder Cup debut next year. "I'm not sure I'd be much use at Celtic Manor," he admits. "I haven't made a cut there in seven years!"

Of much more immediate concern is his play over the next three weeks. Because of his still lowly 'tour school qualifier' status from last year, Drysdale is unlikely to make it into the starting line-up for all of the big-money year-end events. So how he performs in the French Open, the Scottish Open and in his Open Championship debut at Turnberry – "I can't wait to play in that one" – will go a long way towards determining just how much progress he can make.

Not that any of the above represents life and death exactly. Besides, if all else fails, he can always cut the grass.

STRAIGHT AND NARROW

With € 358,883 already banked, David Drysdale has accumulated more in prize money this year than he has done in any other year since turning professional in 1995.

He has played in 13 events this year and is currently 43rd in the Race for Dubai. The top 60 qualify for the Tour's new end-of-season finale.

Now ranked a career high 176th in the world, the Dunbar pro has improved his stroke average by almost two shots a round. In 2008 he averaged 72.7; this year he has brought that down to 70.61.

His form is impressive. He was 13th at the European Open, 93rd at the Wales Open and fourth at the BMW International Open.

Drysdale was 61st at last year's Barclays Scottish Open and 63rd in 2008. His best result was 25th place in 2005.

Having failed to qualify so often in the past, the 34-year-old will make his Open debut at Turnberry later this month.