US star Uihlein targets European Tour with Chandler

AROUND two months after losing Rory McIlroy to a rival company, Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler has pulled off an interesting move by adding Peter Uihlein, a former US Amateur champion, to his ISM stable.

The 22-year-old was a member of the US team at this year’s Walker Cup at Royal Aberdeen, having also played against Great Britain & Ireland in the biennial event two years ago. Uihlein will make his professional debut in next month’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship and then try to play in more events on the European Tour or, failing that, the Challenge Tour.

“I am delighted that Peter is joining us. It is a pioneering move by him and I’m sure that he will benefit enormously from the experience,” said Chandler, ISM’s managing director. “The obvious step would have been to try to establish his career in the United States.

“But, having seen players like [new ISM stablemates] Lee Westwood, Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen and Darren Clarke build careers by playing all over the world, including America, Peter has been encouraged.”

Uihlein was voted American Junior Golf Association AJGA Rolex Player of the Year twice. The Oklahoma State University player won the US Amateur in 2010 and was the highest-ranked amateur in the world for 52 weeks from June 2010.

“The PGA European Tour plays all over the world,” said Uihlein, who emerged from his brace of Walker Cup appearances with six wins from eight matches. “Those players who have played on the Tour, and who are still members, make for a pretty impressive list. My goal is to be successful on the PGA European Tour and I feel the ISM team is well positioned to help me achieve my goals.”

In addition to the likes of Westwood and Clarke, Uihlein’s fellow ISM players include Scottish pair Andrew Coltart and Michael Stewart.