Rookie Byrne has ‘lots to learn’

JAMES Byrne, who launches his European Tour Qualifying School campaign in Portugal today, had mixed feelings about securing a top-50 finish in the Dunhill Links Championship.

On the one hand, the 22-year-old from Banchory felt he had acquitted himself well in only his second event as a professional, earning a cheque for just under £15,000 as he shot rounds of 67, 71, 72 and 70 to tie for 42nd behind winner Michael Hoey.

It followed a top-30 finish in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, where he played as an amateur before switching to the paid ranks after helping Great Britain & Ireland win the Walker Cup at Royal Aberdeen. But, on the other, Byrne admitted he needs to try and take his game to another level to get himself into contention in such events and, more than anything, his eyes have been opened about how well players need to putt on the European Tour.

“While I’m pleased overall – the fact there are so many big names below me on the leaderboard is a positive – it is also a little disappointing that I’ve not finished a bit higher,” he said.

“I felt as though I acquitted myself well, but the main thing I’ve discovered this week is that I’ve still got a lot to learn.

“You can’t give away some of the shots I’ve let slip this week while I have also discovered just how important putting is out here. All the guys I have played with have putted unbelievably, at least compared with amateur golf. I played with Lorenzo Gagli in my last round and he never missed. I think that’s going to be the main difference in trying to take the next step up.

“I felt comfortable again, but I want to raise my game a bit so that I can compete. I don’t want to be finishing 50th all the time.

“You need to make a lot of birdies out here. I shot 70 in the last round, which is okay, but it didn’t move me up any higher.”

Englishman Tom Lewis, who finished last among the 70 qualifiers in the Dunhill Links, is exempt from the first stage of the Qualifying School as a result of him having been in the top ten in the World Amateur Golf Rankings at the end of August.

But, along with Michael Stewart, who failed to come through one of the earlier events, Byrne is going to have to go the whole hog to try and secure his Tour card, starting with this week’s four-round event at Ribagolfe, near Lisbon.

“It’s going to be another busy week, but I’m looking forward to it it,” said the Scot.